As Sudan's civil war enters its fourth year with no lasting ceasefire in sight, the European Union has identified Saudi Arabia as one of the most influential diplomatic actors capable of steering the conflict toward peace. According to Annette Weber, the EU's Special Representative for the Horn of Africa, Riyadh's sustained engagement has become indispensable in efforts to secure a ceasefire, expand humanitarian access, and lay the foundation for a political transition.
Speaking during a visit to Riyadh, Weber described Saudi diplomacy as "absolutely key," noting that the Saudi-hosted Jeddah negotiations were the last significant forum where Sudan's rival factions were brought together for substantive talks. She emphasized that Saudi Arabia's geographic proximity, regional influence, and relationships with Sudan's military leadership place the Kingdom in a unique position to revive stalled negotiations and help prevent further regional instability.
Sudan has been engulfed in conflict since April 2023, when fighting erupted between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The war has displaced millions, devastated infrastructure, triggered famine in several regions, and created what the United Nations describes as one of the world's worst humanitarian crises.
Weber stressed that ending the violence requires a multi-layered approach. While Saudi Arabia and its international partners continue to push for a humanitarian truce through the Jeddah process, the European Union, the African Union, the United Nations, and other regional organizations are simultaneously working to prepare the political framework for Sudan's post-war recovery. She argued that ceasefire negotiations and political planning must proceed together if Sudan is to avoid further fragmentation.
The humanitarian dimension of the crisis was also highlighted during the International Sudan Humanitarian Pledging Conference held in Berlin earlier this year. Co-hosted by Germany, the European Union, the African Union, France, the United Kingdom, and the United States, the conference sought to mobilize financial support while placing renewed international attention on Sudan's worsening humanitarian emergency.
The Berlin conference secured approximately $1.8 billion (about €1.5 billion) in humanitarian commitments for Sudan. However, Weber cautioned that raising funds alone is not enough. She argued that the greatest challenge remains ensuring that aid reaches vulnerable civilians trapped in conflict zones, many of whom remain inaccessible because of insecurity, bureaucratic restrictions, and attacks on humanitarian workers.
She urged Sudan's warring parties to guarantee safe humanitarian corridors, calling on the RSF to halt attacks on aid personnel while encouraging Sudan's government to reduce administrative obstacles that delay relief operations. According to Weber, humanitarian assistance must remain neutral and reach all Sudanese citizens regardless of which side controls their communities.
Beyond immediate relief efforts, the Berlin conference also underscored the importance of empowering Sudanese civilian voices in shaping the country's future. Organizers emphasized that any lasting peace must be Sudanese-led and inclusive, rather than driven solely by military actors or foreign governments. Civil society representatives participated alongside international partners in discussions focused on building a credible civilian political transition.
For the European Union, Saudi Arabia's diplomatic engagement and the international commitments made in Berlin represent complementary pillars of the broader peace effort. Financial assistance can help alleviate suffering, but without sustained diplomacy capable of delivering a ceasefire and opening humanitarian corridors, the humanitarian catastrophe is likely to deepen.
As fighting continues across Sudan, Weber's message was unequivocal: diplomacy must accelerate, humanitarian access must be guaranteed, and political transition planning cannot wait. In her words, Sudan needs "a ceasefire tomorrow" if the country is to avert further devastation and begin the long road toward recovery.
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