ROME — The U.S. special envoy for Sudan expressed concerns on Thursday regarding the lack of political willingness from the conflicting parties to achieve peace in the war-torn country. This statement came shortly after his first visit since assuming his role, highlighting the ongoing struggles in Sudan.

Sudan has been engulfed in violence since mid-April 2023, a situation triggered by long-standing hostilities between military and paramilitary factions. The conflict first erupted in the capital, Khartoum, and has since spread to various regions, including western Darfur. The ramifications of this unrest have been devastating, resulting in tens of thousands of fatalities, the displacement of millions, and a significant portion of the population facing starvation.

Tom Perriello, who started his position as special envoy in February, visited Port Sudan on Monday to engage with local officials, including General Abdel Fattah Burhan, the head of the military. He has been leading the military against the rival Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in a conflict that has persisted for over 19 months. Efforts to establish a cease-fire have repeatedly failed, with the most recent breakdown occurring in August when the Sudanese military opted out of talks mediated by the U.S. in Geneva. Fighting has intensified since that time, and the RSF has faced accusations from the United Nations for committing atrocities, including the killing of civilians and sexual violence in various regions of Sudan.

During an interview in Rome, Perriello remarked, “We do not yet see enough political appetite from the parties to find a real resolution to this conflict,” stressing that any resolution needs to prioritize returning power to the people. This current crisis follows Sudan’s attempts to form a civilian government after a popular uprising ousted longtime dictator Omar al-Bashir in 2019. However, the brief transition towards democracy collapsed when Burhan and General Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, leader of the RSF, collaborated to execute a military coup in 2021, which ultimately led to their subsequent fallout and the current violent clashes.

The ongoing conflict has had severe consequences, with over 20,000 reported fatalities since its inception, according to United Nations statistics. Approximately 14 million individuals, representing about 30% of the population, have been forcibly displaced, either seeking refuge in other parts of Sudan or fleeing to neighboring countries. The United Nations has classified this situation as one of the world’s most critical displacement crises. Furthermore, a warning was issued recently that Sudan is nearing famine, with more than 26.5 million people experiencing acute hunger.

Perriello noted the sheer scale of human suffering, emphasizing the astonishingly high figures that illustrate the plight of the civilian population trapped amid escalating violence. “The numbers are astronomical,” he stated, emphasizing that the death toll might be even higher than current estimates indicate. He specifically highlighted reports of atrocities carried out by RSF combatants in the Gezira state, where horrific acts against women and children were cited, along with multiple attacks resulting in civilian deaths.

While in Sudan, Perriello engaged with civil society representatives and humanitarian workers to facilitate improved access to essential food and medical supplies for those in need throughout the nation. He also underscored the U.S. commitment to halting the supply of arms to the conflict parties, despite an existing U.N. arms embargo. According to Sudan’s ruling Sovereign Council, Burhan has accused the United Arab Emirates, a U.S. ally, of providing weapons to the RSF; a claim that a U.N. expert panel has deemed credible, although the UAE has denied such allegations. There are also indications that the RSF is receiving support from Russia’s Wagner mercenary group.

Perriello affirmed the U.S. stance is clear to nations globally about the urgent need to stop supplying arms that fuel the conflict. He acknowledged Burhan’s receipt of Russian backing and his close ties to Egypt and its president, who is a former military chief. Notably, reports have surfaced of discussions in February between Sudan’s foreign minister and his Iranian counterpart regarding potential drone acquisitions.

“We have way too many countries that are pouring weapons into Sudan who should be pouring in food and medicine,” Perriello remarked, stressing the moral obligation of other nations to prioritize humanitarian aid. He expressed concern that numerous countries are engaging with Sudan not to help its citizens, but rather to exploit the country’s unstable condition.

Having previously dealt with crises in locations such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Afghanistan, and Sierra Leone, Perriello reflected on the unprecedented scale of the current disaster and the insufficient global attention it has received.