The Sudan Crisis Needs an America First Solution

Editor’s Note: This story contains some graphic descriptions of violence. Read at your own discretion.

A few days ago, we received some picture and video images from a place in Sudan called Wad Madani. They were perhaps among the most disturbing images we have seen coming out of this country. 

The images were of soldiers from the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) torturing and executing African children, some seemingly as young as 10 or 11 years of age. More than a dozen of their corpses lay in the street, where they had been slaughtered like goats.

These images provoked us to write on this topic again, as we believe Western policymakers continue to overlook the behavior of the SAF in order to continue playing the game of “the lesser of two evils” and breathe life and legitimacy into Sudan’s dying, kleptocratic, and evil regime.

Sudan Is a Failed State Destabilizing the Region

The National Islamic Front/National Congress Party (now known as the SAF) has used violence and division to impose the ideology of “political Islam” expressed by the twin policies of Islamization and Arabization.

Following the October 2021 coup against the democratic transition, led by Generals Burhan and Hemedti, the U.S. and international community wasted no time in extending tacit blessing and legitimacy to the SAF. At the same time, they failed to see the inevitable split between Burhan and Hemedti, which led to the eruption of the present civil war on April 15, 2023.

Today, the U.S. government has declared Sudan to be the “world’s worst humanitarian crisis.” More than half of Sudan’s 45 million people are facing “food insecurity.” More than 12 million have been violently uprooted from their homes.

Sadly, international mediation efforts are geared toward mending the rift between these two murderous war criminals rather than galvanizing behind the majority populist support for systemic change.

40 Years of Failed U.S. Policy That Doesn’t Serve American Interests

By contrast, Sudan’s partners (which include Iran, Russia, Libya, Turkey, Qatar, UAE, Saudi, Egypt, and various jihadist groups including ISIS, Hamas, Hezbollah, and others) have very distinct and well-defined interests, including support for regional and global jihad; military partnerships; trade and economic relations; livestock, agricultural schemes, petroleum, gold, uranium and other strategic minerals; protected access to the the Nile; and strategic ports in Suakin and Port Sudan, through which 20% of all global maritime traffic passes. 

But what are America’s vital and strategic interests in Sudan and the region? Considering the billions of U.S. dollars invested there over many decades, this question deserves serious consideration.

Thus far, America’s investment has proven to be ill spent. It has not expanded personal or economic freedoms, improved regional stability, or stopped the bleeding of human suffering. Investing in the extremist Islamic establishment has done little more than perpetuate regional conflict and instability and empower the forces of terror, genocide, and religious persecution.

But this can change literally overnight.

Trump Can Solve This by Pursuing America’s Real Interests

Applying President Donald Trump’s “America First” policy in Sudan and the region will reverse decades of failure and disappointment.

It begins by identifying movements and parties within the country that share America’s values and are open for long-term partnerships on an economic and ideological basis. Those organic forces that align with our strategic interests are well known. America once recognized their rights to self-determination and religious freedom in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement of 2005, which we helped shepherd. But somewhere along the way, we forgot our promises to them.

SPLM-N Hilu has proven to be a disciplined and organized movement in Sudan that is closely aligned with American values. It opened a “sharia-free” zone in an area of Sudan geographically the size of Georgia – the Nuba mountains of Southern Kordofan. During the past 15 years, four million Sudanese have voted with their feet to live in this liberated area. Tens of thousands of others risk life and limb to escape Islamic extremism to reach this oasis every month.

In addition to the organized resistance of SPLM-N Hilu, an intifada (populist uprising) in Khartoum sparked in December 2018 (often referred to as “The Street”) was the catalyst for the removal of war criminal Omar Al Bashir, who was indicted by the International Criminal Court.

The Street and SPLM-N Hilu have both called for the collapse of this corrupt system, an end to sharia laws, and the formation of civilian-led democratic rule.

Trump can stop another “endless war” and reverse 40-plus years of failed U.S. policy very quickly. Launching an America First policy toward Sudan will boost our interests there by providing legitimacy, as well as political and appropriate support to the Street and the sharia-free zone created by SPLM-N Hilu.

The days of dumping cash into broken regimes that threaten America’s national security and despise our values are long gone. And good riddance.

America First means supporting America’s values where we find them organically throughout the world. In Sudan, we know who our friends are. We just need the courage and leadership to open avenues of trade and development. This is a winning strategy for America, Sudan, and Africa as a whole.

The Trump administration can take these immediate steps to secure our geostrategic interests by implementing an America First policy in Sudan:

End all U.S. aid and assistance to regions of Sudan controlled by the extremist SAF and RSF.
Encourage Sudan‘s partners to shut off the taps of support (cash, equipment, and hardware) to the Islamist military establishment.
Apply real pressure on Sudan’s military and Islamist elites to step aside allowing a genuine transition to civilian-led democratic rule with self-determination and religious freedoms.
Provide legitimacy, political, and other necessary support to our allies: SPLM-N Hilu and the Street.
Remove obstacles to trade and investment within “pro-America” regions governed by our allies.

By pursuing an America First policy in Sudan, the nation of Sudan can become a valuable trading partner and strategic ally of the U.S. The way will open for American economic interests to compete with, and eventually surpass those of China in Africa. We can help stop another endless war, roll back the global influence of Islamic extremism, and bring freedom and an end to immense human suffering for 45 million Sudanese people.

Brad Phillips is the founder and president of The Persecution Project, a faith-based charity which has been active in serving Sudan’s marginalized and persecuted communities for nearly 30 years.

Jason Jones is a senior contributor to The Stream. He is a film producer, activist, and human rights worker. He is also the author of three books, the latest of which is The Great Campaign Against the Great Reset.  

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