In a significant diplomatic development, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi hosted Sudan’s army chief, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, in Cairo last week. While the meeting appeared to be a routine diplomatic exchange, it underscored a renewed and serious US-backed effort to address the ongoing Sudanese conflict. This initiative has already yielded preliminary results, with representatives from both Burhan’s government and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) engaging in indirect talks in Washington. The discussions, facilitated by the US, aim to broker a ceasefire and pave the way for a lasting resolution to the civil war that has devastated Sudan since April 2023. The conflict, which erupted over tensions regarding the integration of the RSF into the regular military, has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and displaced over 13 million people. US President Donald Trump has personally tasked President Sisi with mediating the crisis, emphasizing the humanitarian catastrophe and the broader regional instability it threatens. The talks, which include key regional players such as Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, are part of a broader strategy to restore stability to the Horn of Africa. However, challenges remain, including deep-seated mistrust between the warring factions and competing regional interests that could complicate the peace process. Despite these hurdles, there is cautious optimism that a breakthrough may be imminent, with the US and its allies leveraging their influence to push for a resolution.