Abdalla Mohamed
Over the past two decades, Qatar has emerged as one of the most influential international mediators in managing conflicts and facilitating peace agreements. Its involvement in Sudan dates back to 2003, when Doha hosted negotiations that led to partial reconciliation agreements between the Sudanese government and Darfur rebel groups. Qatar’s mediation efforts extended globally, most notably through hosting the talks between the United States and the Taliban, culminating in the 2020 Doha Agreement on US troop withdrawal from Afghanistan. More recently, Qatar delivered a peace draft to address the conflict between the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels, further consolidating its reputation as a credible, flexible, and widely accepted mediator.
Qatar’s mediation track record also extends to the Middle East, particularly in the conflict between Hamas and Israel. By facilitating ceasefire negotiations, delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza, and serving as a communication channel between Hamas and international stakeholders, Qatar has demonstrated its ability to engage with polarized actors in some of the world’s most sensitive conflicts. This capacity to balance humanitarian imperatives with political realities has reinforced its image as a trusted and neutral mediator.
This record positions Qatar as highly qualified to play a central role in Sudan’s current crisis, particularly as the Jeddah process has stalled and regional powers pursue conflicting agendas. Against this backdrop, the recent meeting in Switzerland between General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, Chairman of Sudan’s Sovereign Council, and the US Special Envoy to Sudan signals renewed Qatari involvement in mediation, backed by American interest in reviving the Sudanese peace track.
Sources said the closed-door meeting focused on a US peace plan seeking to end Sudan’s two-year war, secure a comprehensive ceasefire, and guarantee the flow of humanitarian aid to affected areas. However, while the meeting did not produce a breakthrough, it marked the highest-level contact between Washington and Khartoum in months, as the US pushes for a political settlement despite the collapse of earlier US- and Saudi-led mediation efforts and divisions among regional powers such as Egypt and the UAE over the transition process.
The political implications of that meeting reflect Washington’s renewed engagement in Sudan, sending a clear message that the US is not abandoning the crisis. It also highlights Qatar’s role as a mediator accepted by both Washington and the Sudanese Armed Forces, in contrast to the stagnation of the Saudi–US Jeddah initiative.
General Al-Burhan reiterated his rejection of integrating the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) into any future political process, framing it as a red line. While this stance may bolster his domestic legitimacy, it has posed a challenge for international mediators, who tried to place the national army and the RSF on equal footing in the ongoing conflict — a stance that many observers believe has only helped prolong the war.
On his side, the US envoy, Massad Boulos, emphasized humanitarian concerns, including the need for ceasefires and the facilitation of aid delivery. This suggests that Washington currently prioritizes mitigating the humanitarian catastrophe over pursuing a comprehensive political settlement.
While the Swiss meeting did not represent a decisive breakthrough, it repositioned Sudan’s crisis on the international agenda and reaffirmed US interest in playing a leading role. The future of Sudan’s peace process will depend on the army’s willingness to compromise, the handling of the RSF question, and the ability of mediators—particularly Qatar—to construct a more inclusive and balanced negotiation framework.
Taken together, these experiences highlight Qatar’s unique position to act as a credible partner in Sudan’s peace process. Moving beyond failed multilateral frameworks and embracing direct US–Qatar mediation represents the most viable pathway forward. With its proven record in Afghanistan, Angola, and the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, Qatar is well placed to help Sudan break the cycle of conflict and embark on a path toward lasting peace and development.
