The United States is facing escalating diplomatic pressure from rival Sudanese factions seeking Washington’s recognition and support ahead of the upcoming United Nations General Assembly.
Both the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) are intensifying lobbying efforts to secure a strategic advantage in the eyes of the Biden administration. The struggle for legitimacy in Washington is seen as a critical lever for controlling international assets and influencing future peace negotiations.
The diplomatic scramble comes as the conflict, which erupted in April 2023, continues to expand geographically, destabilising not only Sudan but also affecting regional security and trade corridors across East Africa and the Sahel.
The SAF, led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, maintains its status as the official state military, while the RSF, under Mohamed Hamdan “Hemedti” Dagalo, controls vast territories, including the capital, Khartoum, and much of the western Darfur region.
US officials have remained cautious, attempting to broker a ceasefire without appearing to endorse either warring party. However, the pressure to designate a legitimate interlocutor has grown as the humanitarian situation reaches catastrophic levels, with millions facing famine.
Economic Control and the Battle for Gold Reserves
Beyond diplomatic prestige, the competition for US recognition is tied to the control of Sudan’s decimated economy and its remaining strategic assets. The conflict has triggered a near-total collapse of the formal banking sector and a sharp contraction in GDP.
A central point of contention is the control of the Central Bank of Sudan and the country’s gold exports. Gold remains one of Sudan’s few significant sources of hard currency, and the faction that secures international legitimacy is better positioned to manage these revenues and avoid stringent sanctions.
The US Department of State has used targeted sanctions to pressure both sides, but the factions view Washington’s endorsement as a pathway to lifting these restrictions or gaining access to frozen state assets held abroad.
The economic devastation is further compounded by the destruction of agricultural infrastructure. Sudan, once poised to be a breadbasket for the region, has seen its farming cycles disrupted, exacerbating food insecurity and driving up prices for essential commodities across neighbouring borders.
Data from the World Bank indicates that the war has wiped out years of developmental gains, leaving the state unable to provide basic services or maintain critical infrastructure, including energy grids and water systems.
Regional powers, including Egypt and the UAE, have also played roles in the conflict, often aligning with different factions. This has turned the Sudanese crisis into a geopolitical proxy battle, where US influence is viewed by both the SAF and RSF as the ultimate deciding factor for long-term viability.
The outcome of the upcoming UN General Assembly meetings is expected to signal whether the US will maintain its neutral stance or shift toward a more decisive strategy to force a political transition.
Immediate priorities for the international community include securing humanitarian corridors to prevent mass starvation and establishing a framework for a permanent ceasefire that addresses the control of state financial institutions.
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