Opinion: US Pressure Campaign on Sudan’s Army Said to Have Backfired

An opinion piece published by Al Jazeera argues that the United States’ diplomatic strategy toward Sudan has backfired, leaving Washington increasingly isolated rather than Sudan’s army, which the policy was intended to pressure.

According to the piece, pressure meant to isolate the Sudanese military has instead distanced Washington from other actors with influence over the conflict, and has pushed a ceasefire further out of reach rather than closer to it.

The commentary does not detail the specific diplomatic measures referenced, such as sanctions, statements or negotiating positions, beyond characterizing the overall approach as counterproductive.

Sudan has been engulfed in a civil conflict between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces paramilitary group since fighting broke out in 2023, with repeated international efforts to broker a ceasefire having so far failed to produce a lasting halt to the violence.

As an opinion piece, the article reflects the analysis and judgment of its author rather than a straight news report, and its characterization of US diplomacy as having “backfired” represents an argument rather than an established fact.

The piece does not specify what alternative approach it believes would be more effective in advancing a ceasefire in Sudan.