Speaking to Sky News Arabia, Osman painted a grim picture of a conflict entangled with Islamist ambitions and global powers, leaving the Sudanese people as the sole losers.

He stressed that battlefield realities disproved claims of a quick victory, noting that the war has dragged into its fourth year with unprecedented humanitarian disaster: 18 million displaced across Sudan’s 18 states and over 20 million in urgent need of food. Both warring sides, he said, know the conflict cannot be won militarily but seek a formula for its end.

Osman blamed Sudan’s Islamist movement for fueling violence, recalling the 1989 coup that derailed peace and ultimately led to South Sudan’s secession in 2011. He accused Islamists of igniting the current war in hopes of regaining power, but insisted they remain the main obstacle to peace.

He warned of a dangerous push toward division, with Islamist rhetoric promoting tribal and geographic splits reminiscent of the pre-secession narrative. Osman urged regional states to follow the U.S. in banning Islamist activity.

Highlighting international efforts, he praised the Berlin Conference as a turning point after failed attempts in London and Paris. Berlin brought together regional states, the African Union, Arab League, UN, EU, and UK, agreeing that civilians must lead post-war politics and that no military faction should dominate. He called on Washington to exert maximum pressure on both sides.

On the ground, Sudanese civil forces are drafting a joint political vision independent of the army and Rapid Support Forces, involving diverse groups such as the Resilience Alliance, Popular Congress, Sudan Liberation Movement, and Baath Party. A comprehensive dialogue is planned for June in Addis Ababa under the “Quad” mechanism.

Osman concluded with a bleak portrayal of Sudanese citizens as hostages of armed factions, stripped of free expression and subjected to prisons, torture, and unjust trials. He insisted that real change hinges on removing weapons from Sudan’s political equation entirely.