The Prime Minister of Sudan, Kamil Idris, departed on Saturday for New York to meet with the UN Secretary-General and other senior officials for talks on the ongoing war and humanitarian crisis.
The war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan is nearing its three-year mark, causing one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises amid faltering peace efforts.
UN Consultations
On Saturday morning, Idris left Port Sudan for New York to hold consultations with senior UN officials, reported Sudan News Agency (SUNA).
The talks aim to strengthen relations and advance cooperation, in addition to discussing several issues of common interest, most notably the ongoing war, its implications, prospects for peace, and humanitarian action.
Idris’ visit to New York marks his second, after addressing the UN General Assembly in September. It is also his fifth foreign trip since assuming office in June 2025, following visits to Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Eritrea and Türkiye, according to Sudan Tribune.
Topics of Discussion
The Sudanese Prime Minister’s visit to the US comes at a critical timing for Sudan, as fighting between the SAF and the RSF intensifies in South Kordofan, raising alarm over the repetition of El-Fasher atrocities.
El-Fasher city, the capital of North Darfur state, fell to the RSF in October 2025 after an 18-month siege, sparking worldwide condemnation as the paramilitary’s fighters have unleashed a wave of summary executions, sexual violence and mass detention.
In the light of this, Idris is expected to hold a meeting with the UN Chief, Antonio Guterres, during which they will discuss “putting an end to the worsening humanitarian crisis” in Sudan, a Sudanese government source told AFP.
Moreover, the discussions will focus on “facilitating aid access” and reiterating the SAF-aligned government’s commitment to a roadmap presented to the UN, including a “conditional ceasefire linked to the withdrawal of the RSF from areas and cities it occupies,” Idris’ adviser Mohamed Abdel Qader told AFP.
Accountability for RSF
Separately, the Sudanese Minister of Cabinet Affairs, Limaa Abdel-Ghaffar Khalafallah, urged the international community to designate the RSF as a terrorist organization and hold it accountable for its crimes, reported SUNA.
Speaking at the Second Ministerial Conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum in Cairo, the Sudanese Minister accused the RSF of committing “mass killings, destruction, displacement, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and acts of genocide.”
She also pointed to the RSF crimes in El-Fasher, where the paramilitary group “deliberately targeted civilians and infrastructure, even documenting and broadcasting their crimes on social media, shocking global conscience.”
Allegation against UAE
Furthermore, the Sudanese Minister slammed the UAE for “funding, arming, and providing political, diplomatic, and media support” to the RSF, underscoring the need to “hold any regional or international actors who offered material, logistical, or military support to the RSF accountable.”
The UAE has faced accusations from the SAF, UN experts and human rights organizations of supplying the RSF with weapons and mercenaries. However, Abu Dhabi firmly denies these allegations.
Peace Efforts
Efforts have intensified to bring the war in Sudan to an end. On Friday, the US State Secretary, Marco Rubio, said that Washington is prioritizing a humanitarian truce in Sudan during the New Year holidays to allow humanitarian aid to flow into the war-torn country.
He also noted that the US is engaged in conversations with external supporters to end their involvement in the conflict.
Following a meeting with the Saudi Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, in November 2025, US President Donald Trump said he would personally intervene to stop the conflict in Sudan.
Saudi Arabia is part of the Quad group, alongside the US, Egypt and the UAE. The group has ramped up efforts in recent months to bring peace to Sudan.
Most recently, the US Special Envoy for African Affairs, Massad Boulos, was on a trip to the region where he held discussions with senior Saudi, Egyptian and Emirati officials on advancing peace efforts in Sudan.
SAF Commander, Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh last week. After the meeting, he expressed readiness to work with Trump to resolve the conflict.
