US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking during a visit to Rome on Thursday, May 7, 2026, reaffirmed Washington’s determination to broker a peace agreement in Sudan.
Addressing officials at the US Embassy to the Holy See, Rubio characterized the conflict as one of the world’s premier humanitarian tragedies, echoing recent denunciations by the Pope. The Secretary warned that the crisis has devolved into a complex proxy war, fueled by several nations providing direct support to armed factions or allowing their territories to serve as transit corridors for illicit weapons shipments. To combat this, Rubio urged the international backers of Sudan’s warring parties to exert immediate pressure on them to commit to a comprehensive political settlement rather than seeking a fragmented or partial solution.
Washington’s strategy currently centers on the “Quad” diplomatic framework, which involves constant engagement from US Special Envoy Massad Boulos and the State Department’s Africa bureau. While Rubio acknowledged the recent agreement on a declaration of principles as a positive step, he emphasized that these words must be translated into tangible action on the ground. The immediate US priority is the establishment of a humanitarian ceasefire to facilitate the delivery of life-saving aid into designated “safe zones.” However, Rubio was clear that a ceasefire is only a preliminary necessity, insisting that it must not be mistaken for the final end state of the peace process.
AC/lb/abj/APA