US Appoints New Envoy to Sudan Amid Conflicting Responses

Sudanese refugees escaping conflict regions (AFP)
Sudanese refugees escaping conflict regions (AFP)
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US Appoints New Envoy to Sudan Amid Conflicting Responses

Sudanese refugees escaping conflict regions (AFP)
Sudanese refugees escaping conflict regions (AFP)

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.



Türkiye Sends Massive Military Reinforcements to Northern Syria

Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Güler attends the "Free Fire 2024" training on Thursday (Turkish Ministry of Defense)
Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Güler attends the "Free Fire 2024" training on Thursday (Turkish Ministry of Defense)
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Türkiye Sends Massive Military Reinforcements to Northern Syria

Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Güler attends the "Free Fire 2024" training on Thursday (Turkish Ministry of Defense)
Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Güler attends the "Free Fire 2024" training on Thursday (Turkish Ministry of Defense)

Türkiye has sent major military reinforcements to its positions across various fronts in northwestern Syria, amid concerns over Israel expanding its attacks from Gaza to Lebanon and its strikes on targets in Syria.

In this context, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attended a secret parliamentary session on Thursday to discuss developments and threats to national security in light of Israel’s growing attacks and their proximity to Türkiye’s southern borders.

During the session, Defense Minister Yasar Güler and Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan presented an overview of the situation in the region, focusing on Israeli strikes and potential threats to the country’s national security. The meeting will remain classified for 10 years.

Güler warned against dragging the region into significant turmoil due to Israel’s efforts to spread “state terrorism” in Lebanon. He stressed that this situation compels his country to be prepared for all possible scenarios and to adopt preemptive policies.

In the past two weeks, the Turkish army has sent significant military reinforcements, including convoys of equipment, soldiers, and logistical supplies, to areas controlled by Turkish forces, the Syrian National Army, which is loyal to Ankara, and areas controlled by Hayaat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported on Friday that Türkiye had sent massive reinforcements, including over 190 military vehicles, such as armored vehicles, tanks, personnel carriers, and trucks loaded with logistical equipment and ammunition. These were distributed across several strategic fronts in Idlib and Aleppo provinces, amid Ankara’s efforts to maintain its influence and prevent the outbreak of large-scale confrontations between the Syrian army and opposition forces.

The Turkish reinforcements coincided with HTS’s preparations for a major military operation against Syrian government-controlled areas to expand its control in the countrysides of Latakia, Hama, Idlib, and in the city of Aleppo and its western countryside, an area known as the “Putin-Erdogan” zone.

In response, the Syrian army has also sent significant reinforcements to the frontlines with HTS, particularly in Aleppo and Idlib.

According to SOHR, Türkiye has firmly rejected any military action by HTS and warned that it will not allow any wounded HTS fighters to be treated on Turkish soil. It also said that the country would block any military supplies from passing through the Bab al-Hawa border crossing in northern Idlib, which is a lifeline for northern Syria.

Alongside the heavy military build-up, Turkish military command has issued orders for all its forces and allied factions in northern Syria to be on full alert and to raise their level of preparedness.

A Turkish military official said on Thursday that his country is closely monitoring the situation and that no significant displacement toward the border with Syria has occurred amid the Israeli escalation in Lebanon.

He emphasized that Türkiye’s military operations in northern Syria are focused on two main objectives: combating terrorist organizations, referring to the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG), the largest component of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), and preventing new waves of displacement from within Syrian territory.

In light of these developments, Moscow announced that it is preparing to hold the 22nd round of the Astana peace talks for a political solution to the Syrian crisis, after a 10-month pause.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin said preparations are underway to organize the meeting in Kazakhstan’s capital, according to the Russian news agency TASS.

The 21st round of Astana talks took place on Jan. 25, with the participation of the three guarantor countries (Russia, Türkiye and Iran), as well as delegations from the Syrian government and the Syrian opposition. Representatives from Jordan, Lebanon, and Iraq also attended as observers, along with representatives from the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross.