Sudanese-US Talks in Cairo Postponed

US Special Envoy to Sudan Tom Perriello at a press conference in Geneva, August 12 (EPA)
US Special Envoy to Sudan Tom Perriello at a press conference in Geneva, August 12 (EPA)
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Sudanese-US Talks in Cairo Postponed

US Special Envoy to Sudan Tom Perriello at a press conference in Geneva, August 12 (EPA)
US Special Envoy to Sudan Tom Perriello at a press conference in Geneva, August 12 (EPA)

The Sudanese-US talks planned for this week in Cairo have been delayed. The Sudanese government did not send a delegation, and US envoy Tom Perriello returned to Switzerland to continue aid efforts in Sudan.
This indicates a pause in efforts to resolve the Sudanese crisis.
There has been confusion about the timing of the Cairo talks. The Sudanese government had agreed to attend after being invited by Egypt and the US.
However, diplomats and politicians told Asharq Al-Awsat that a quick resolution is unlikely. They said the talks with Sudan have been postponed, with the US expected to continue negotiations in Switzerland.
The Sudanese government had previously declined to join US-led talks in Switzerland on August 14, which aimed to address the conflict between the Sudanese Army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), with participation from the UN, African Union, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.
The Rapid Support Forces did attend.
The Sudanese Sovereignty Council planned to send a delegation to Cairo to discuss the Jeddah Agreement with US representatives. This followed discussions between the US envoy and the Egyptian government.
Sudanese sources said the delegation did not go to Cairo because they were unhappy with how the US envoy extended the invitation.
The Sovereignty Council had agreed to the Cairo meeting but wanted proper notice. The envoy’s last-minute request for attendance was rejected.
The talks focus on creating mechanisms for a ceasefire, ensuring the protection of civilians, and facilitating humanitarian aid.
They also aim to ensure that the warring parties fully implement the Jeddah Declaration.
Ali Youssef, former Sudanese ambassador to the EU, said that the Cairo talks with the Sudanese government have been delayed, not canceled.
Youssef told Asharq Al-Awsat that the Sudanese government is likely to focus on military action soon. He highlighted recent moves by the Sudanese army to target RSF positions.
Youssef criticized the Geneva talks, saying they were an attempt by the US to sidestep the Jeddah Agreement’s humanitarian goals and impose a US-centric approach, which the Sudanese army rejected.
He also noted that the Sudanese government opposes the US refusal to recognize the Sovereignty Council as a transitional authority.
Since the conflict began in April 2023, Jeddah has hosted talks led by Saudi Arabia and the US.

 



US Revokes Foreign Terrorist Designation for Syria's HTS

Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa speaks during a Ministerial formation of the government of the Syrian Arab Republic, in Damascus, Syria March 29, 2025. (Reuters)
Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa speaks during a Ministerial formation of the government of the Syrian Arab Republic, in Damascus, Syria March 29, 2025. (Reuters)
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US Revokes Foreign Terrorist Designation for Syria's HTS

Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa speaks during a Ministerial formation of the government of the Syrian Arab Republic, in Damascus, Syria March 29, 2025. (Reuters)
Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa speaks during a Ministerial formation of the government of the Syrian Arab Republic, in Damascus, Syria March 29, 2025. (Reuters)

President Donald Trump's administration on Monday revoked the foreign terrorist organization designation for Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, as Washington moves to remove US sanctions on Syria to help the country rebuild following years of a civil war.

In December, opposition factions led by HTS ousted Syria's former president Bashar al-Assad in a lightning offensive. Then-HTS leader Ahmed al-Sharaa became Syria's president and said he wanted to build an inclusive and democratic Syria.

HTS was previously known as al-Nusra Front when it was al-Qaeda's Syria branch. It broke off ties with al-Qaeda in 2016.

In May, Sharaa met with Trump in Riyadh where, in a major policy shift, the Republican president unexpectedly announced he would lift US sanctions on Syria, prompting Washington to significantly ease its measures.

"This FTO revocation is an important step in fulfilling President Trump’s vision of a stable, unified, and peaceful Syria," Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement, adding that the revocation will come into effect on Tuesday.

Last week, Trump signed an executive order terminating US sanctions program on Syria, a move that aims to end the country's isolation from the international financial system.

Syria's foreign ministry told Reuters that the lifting of sanctions on HTS was a "positive step toward correcting a course that previously hindered constructive engagement."

The written statement said Syria hoped the move would "contribute to the removal of remaining restrictions that continue to impact Syrian institutions and officials, and open the door to a rational, sovereign-based approach to international cooperation."

The ministry also said that Sharaa was planning to attend the upcoming United Nations General Assembly in September. The UN Security Council still has sanctions on both HTS and Sharaa himself, which require a Council decision to remove.