Sudan War:

More than two years into Sudan’s devastating war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), recent developments have significantly changed the landscape. In March 2025, the SAF recaptured the presidential palace in Khartoum, a strategic victory that highlights the shifting dynamics of power within the capital. At the same time, the RSF’s establishment of a rival “Government of Peace and Unity” in Nairobi raises concerns regarding legitimacy, governance, and the potential for international recognition. Amid these power shifts, the humanitarian crisis has worsened, with over 30 million people—more than half of them children—in urgent need of aid, and famine looming over multiple regions.  Moreover, the war has drawn in global actors: from Russia’s Red Sea ambitions to increasing involvement by Iran, Egypt, and Gulf states, Sudan has become an increasingly contested geopolitical landscape with far-reaching implications.

In response to these critical developments, the Middle East Council on Global Affairs (ME Council) is convening a panel of experts to examine the trajectory of Sudan’s conflict and its broader implications. Key questions include: How to stop the war from going into a third year? What are the prospects for a negotiated settlement given the current power dynamics and fragmentation? What role do regional and international powers play in either exacerbating or alleviating the crisis? How might regional actors influence mediation efforts; can Türkiye and key Gulf States succeed in such a task? And amid deepening famine and displacement, what options remain to ease the humanitarian catastrophe?