Massad Boulos, the US Africa envoy, has condemned recent Sudanese military air strikes in Chad and called for an end to external support for warring parties in Sudan.

Massad Boulos, US President Donald Trump’s Africa envoy, issued a formal condemnation on Thursday regarding air strikes conducted by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) within Chadian territory. The strikes, which reportedly targeted the eastern Ennedi region last week, prompted Boulos to warn against the expansion of the Sudanese conflict beyond its borders. He emphasized that there is no military solution to the ongoing civil war and urged both the SAF and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) to prioritize humanitarian efforts.

Diplomatic Demands and Security Concerns

In his statement, Boulos called for an immediate humanitarian truce, the protection of civilians, and the facilitation of unhindered aid access. He further urged the United Nations Security Council to bolster existing arms embargoes and sanctions. Boulos also demanded an end to all external financial and military support for the warring factions, though he did not specify which nations were providing such aid. The Sudanese military previously stated that its actions in Chad were intended to protect its sovereignty and security, specifically citing the targeting of a military convoy. In response to the regional instability, Chadian authorities have reportedly raised their alert level to the maximum, deploying 100 armored vehicles and signal-jamming equipment to the border to defend against potential drone incursions.

Regional Context and Criticism

The conflict in Sudan, now in its third year, has drawn significant international scrutiny regarding the role of external actors. Reports from the United Nations have indicated that the United Arab Emirates has utilized Chad as a logistics hub to route weapons to the RSF. This involvement has previously led Sudanese officials to reject the UAE as a potential mediator in peace negotiations. Boulos’s intervention has faced criticism from some observers. Cameron Hudson, a former State Department official and Africa expert, questioned the envoy's focus, asking why the US has not condemned Chad for allegedly allowing its territory to be used to arm the RSF. While Boulos had previously promised a diplomatic peace plan for Sudan in February, such a resolution has yet to materialize.