The US administration is striving to contain growing criticism of its attempts at controlling the situation in Sudan amid increasing concerns about deteriorating security and humanitarian conditions.
Washington responded to the persistent demands of US lawmakers and appointed Tom Perriello as the seventh envoy to Sudan in 23 years.
US President Joe Biden's allies and the National Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan, welcomed the new appointment.
Sullivan quickly highlighted the administration's "deep commitment to ending the conflict and addressing the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation in Sudan and the region."
Meanwhile, Secretary of State Antony Blinken confirmed that the Special Envoy will coordinate the US policy on Sudan and "advance our efforts to end the hostilities, secure unhindered humanitarian access, and support the Sudanese people as they seek to fulfill their aspirations for freedom, peace, and justice."
- Challenges and obstacles
CISIS analyst and consultant on African peace, security, and governance issues Cameron Hudson believes appointing a special envoy to Sudan may be the right diplomatic step.
However, it would only be effective if his efforts were boosted to lead the track of the US government and diplomatic talks with Sudan and stakeholders there.
Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, Hudson warned that if the appointment was merely an attempt to contain the ongoing criticism of Washington for not working enough to solve the crisis, it would fail and the situation would be much worse.
The former Charge d'Affaires of the US Embassy in Sudan, Alberto Fernandez, voiced Hudson's approach, telling Asharq Al-Awsat that he doubts appointing special envoys in general yields results.
Fernandez explained that appointing envoys embodies Washington's attempt to appear as if it cares about a specific issue without actually achieving much.
Both Hudson and Fernandez's analysis reflects the fears of many officials who have been calling since the outbreak of the crisis to intensify diplomatic efforts and push for Congress-approved sanctions against the parties responsible for the conflict.
Most US legislators demand a presidential envoy with powers to carry out his duties.
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member Jim Risch said the temporary appointment of a special envoy to Sudan, ten months into the war, "shouldn't be viewed as recognition by the Biden Admin of the significance of this crisis. Instead, it demonstrates another failure in its response. Sudan must be a higher priority."
Risch and other Senators released the following statement on the Biden Administration's temporary appointment of Perriello as special envoy for Sudan.
The statement explained the approach of the legislators who called on the administration to appoint a presidential envoy subject to the approval of Congress to give him sufficient powers to deal with the file.
It warned that the war has significant consequences for innocent Sudanese and the entire region.
"As such, Congress began calling for a special envoy who reports directly to the president on a bipartisan basis immediately after the war began. We regret that after all these months, the administration still failed to appoint a more permanent presidential envoy."
They addressed issues of bureaucracy, saying the Department will argue it chose to avoid Senate confirmation due to the urgency of the situation, "it sat on this decision as the interagency argued about resources, reporting lines, and how this position will be used."
Former special envoy to Sudan and South Sudan Donald Booth explained to Asharq Al-Awsat that the special envoy must be the primary person to engage and discuss with the warring parties, those affected by the conflict, and external involved parties.
Regarding Sudan, Booth noted that it would be easier to see the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces agreeing to commit to a political path once their supporters are prepared to pressure them.
- Molly Phee and her "obstructing role"
Sources in Congress, who refused to be named, discussed the "obstructive" role of Assistant Secretary of State Molly Phee in Sudan.
The sources noted that Phee controlled the Sudanese file and refused anyone else assuming the role.
However, Fernandez did not hesitate to criticize Phee publicly, voicing his belief that her role was very harmful to Sudan since the military coup in October 2021.
The expert added that Perriello's appointment begs the question of who will have the final decision in the Sudan file and whether it would be the new envoy or the official who has more influence in the State Department, meaning Phee.
Fernandez feared Perriello will have to spend most of his time facing bureaucratic issues in Washington instead of working to stop the actual war in Sudan.
Hudson believed that the failure of high-level officials, such as the Secretary of State, to resolve the conflict in Sudan and the assignment of people like Phee led to the absence of a solution to the crisis.
He indicated the file should not have been handed to mid-level diplomats, who need to gain experience in managing transitional processes or have weak records in responding to conflicts.
- Consecutive resignations
Critics of Phee's role point to the successive resignations of officials in the Sudan file.
Hudson stated that Washington has shown weakness in commitment in naming the diplomats assigned to Sudan, threatening its efforts for peace in the country.
Fernandez explained that he worked with three special envoys in Sudan, noting that there are many challenges facing the official, such as his knowledge and experience, the time and effort that he will devote to the file, and the administration's support, which is essential.
The expert concluded that there could be good policies and bad envoys, but the truth usually reflects the opposite reality: policies are unclear or unrealistic, and the envoy's qualities do not matter because the problem is politics.
However, Booth pointed out that the special envoy's duties include coordinating Washington's approach to resolving the conflict, adding that he needs to be involved in the talks that formulate policies and enjoy the support of high-ranking officials to ensure a succeeded mission.
