
US to Host Sudan Quartet Meeting Wednesday to Push for Political Settlement
According to diplomatic sources who spoke to local media outlets, the meeting aims to forge a common vision for ending the war, securing a comprehensive ceasefire, and laying the groundwork for a credible political process involving all Sudanese stakeholders. The talks will also focus on ending foreign interference and mitigating the wider regional fallout of the ongoing crisis.
The same sources firmly denied recent speculation about the potential expansion of the Quartet to include other countries such as Qatar or the United Kingdom. They stressed that any changes to the group's composition would require prior agreement among current members and emphasized that the Quartet's priority remains focused, effective engagement among the four core states most directly involved in the Sudan file.
A joint communiqué is expected after the meeting, outlining the Quartet's unified stance on key issues: achieving a lasting cessation of hostilities, initiating an inclusive political dialogue, halting external involvement in Sudanese affairs, facilitating humanitarian access, and affirming support for Sudan's unity, sovereignty, and institutional integrity.
The conflict, which broke out in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has led to mass displacement, the collapse of public services, and widespread food insecurity. With both sides locked in a military stalemate and the humanitarian situation deteriorating, international pressure is mounting for a negotiated solution.
The upcoming Quartet meeting follows renewed diplomatic outreach by Egypt, a key regional actor. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty recently visited Chad's capital, N'Djamena, where he held talks with Chadian Foreign Minister Abderaman Koulamallah. The two discussed the repercussions of the Sudanese conflict on regional stability and underscored the urgency of reaching a peaceful settlement.
Following the talks, the Chadian foreign ministry issued a statement reaffirming its commitment to supporting any initiative that helps restore peace in Sudan. Chad has been directly impacted by the conflict, particularly in its eastern regions bordering Darfur, where tens of thousands of refugees have fled across the border.
The Washington meeting comes at a pivotal moment. With no clear military breakthrough in sight and growing fatigue among regional stakeholders, observers hope that the Quartet's engagement will mark a turning point and help pave the way for a broader peace process.
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Al-Ahram Weekly
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