US and UAE Establish Coordination Mechanism to Promote Sudan Ceasefire and Aid

Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit and U.S. Envoy Massad Boulos have recently reached a significant consensus to establish a regular coordination mechanism aimed at jointly advancing a ceasefire and facilitating humanitarian aid in response to the ongoing civil war in Sudan. The establishment of this cooperative framework signals an attempt by Washington and the Arab world to move away from the previous, fragmented approach to the Sudanese crisis, shifting toward a more systematic, multilateral diplomatic coordination to curb the humanitarian catastrophe caused by the escalating conflict.

Since the outbreak of the Sudanese civil war in April 2023, the power struggle between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has pushed the country to the brink of collapse. Over the past year, despite multiple international mediation attempts—including various platforms such as the Jeddah talks—ceasefire agreements have been repeatedly violated shortly after being signed due to the complex web of domestic factions and the covert influence of external regional powers. This joint effort between the Arab League and the United States, aimed at strengthening diplomatic pressure and negotiation guidance on the warring parties through a bilateral coordination platform, reflects the growing international anxiety over the prolonged stalemate in Sudan.

As a core regional organization, the Arab League has long played a key role in upholding member states' sovereignty and coordinating regional affairs. However, its effectiveness and mobilization capacity in crisis management have often been questioned due to internal divisions of interest. The direct engagement between the Secretary-General and the U.S. Envoy suggests that the organization is seeking to enhance its influence on security issues in the Middle East and North Africa by strategically aligning with a major global power. For the United States, already heavily burdened by diplomatic pressures concerning Ukraine and the Middle East, establishing a regular channel of communication with the Arab League not only shares the burden of mediation but also leverages the regional organization’s geopolitical influence to more accurately monitor the movements and leverage of the warring parties.

Nevertheless, the complexity of the Sudanese civil war extends far beyond diplomatic negotiations. The absolute monopoly over power and resources held by internal warlords, coupled with the interests involved in gold mining and border control, makes any external intervention highly challenging. Whether this U.S.-Arab cooperation can translate into a substantive ceasefire depends on whether the framework can incorporate mandatory oversight mechanisms and effectively check regional proxies providing arms and resources to the combatants. Observers note that if the initiative remains merely a verbal agreement lacking enforcement measures, this coordination mechanism risks becoming another empty document, failing to truly end the plight of displaced Sudanese civilians.

For Taiwan, although the civil war in Sudan is occurring in a distant part of North Africa, the country's strategic location on the western coast of the Red Sea directly impacts the security of global energy and shipping lanes. The Red Sea crisis has not only disrupted international logistics supply chains but has also indirectly increased the costs of energy transport and trade. By monitoring the progress of this U.S.-Arab cooperation, Taiwan can gain a deeper understanding of the limitations and shifts in international multilateral diplomacy when responding to regional conflicts. Furthermore, observing how global powers use regional organizations for risk management in a highly uncertain geopolitical environment offers valuable insights for Taiwan as it engages in international affairs and assesses the resilience of global supply chains.