The US is considering a broader range of sanctions against the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) as efforts to establish a ceasefire falter. This move comes as a tacit acknowledgment of the US envoy Massad Boulos' inability to persuade the parties to accept a ceasefire. Despite Donald Trump's announcement of efforts to end the war, his advisor, Massad Boulos, has struggled to convince the Sudanese army and the RSF to agree to a ceasefire. The US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, has praised Trump's leadership in resolving the Sudan crisis, but an Arab diplomat suggests that Trump's impact is contingent on how it is utilized. The Guardian reports that the warring parties have been informed of Trump's potential to impose punitive sanctions on groups hindering a ceasefire. Norway's foreign ministry is planning to bring together various Sudanese stakeholders in Oslo to discuss the restoration of a civilian government post-conflict. The war has resulted in a devastating humanitarian crisis, with over 14 million people displaced and a reported 40,000 deaths, according to the UN. Saudi Arabia and Egypt have supported the army, while the UAE has backed the RSF. Trump's intervention may involve privately persuading the UAE to reconsider its stance, which has been deemed counterproductive by UN experts and reporters. The US agenda shift towards Sudan was prompted by the UN human rights chief's warning of civilian deaths since October 25th. After the Saudi crown prince's intervention, the US is likely to broaden sanctions and enforce the UN arms embargo on Darfur. The so-called quad (US, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Egypt) proposed a plan for a three-month humanitarian truce, followed by a nine-month political process leading to civilian rule, but the RSF's rejection and the army's accusation of bias frustrated Boulos. Norway's deputy foreign minister, Andreas Motzfeldt Kravik, emphasized the need for a ceasefire to prevent further regional fragmentation. Trump's threat to designate the Muslim Brotherhood as a foreign terrorist organization, supported by the House foreign relations committee, may weaken the army, which is often accused of ties to the movement. The White House's attention to the Sudan crisis is also heightened by reports of the army's potential lease extension to Russia and claims of chemical weapons use. The UAE, opposing Islamism's political influence, emphasizes the need to root out the Muslim Brotherhood as a key factor in the West's approach to the region. Lana Nusseibeh, the UAE minister of state, advocates for a return to a broad-based civilian government in Sudan, criticizing both the RSF and the army for their violations and lack of legitimacy.
