Massad Boulos… Mr. “Big Broker”

While reading this news report, my memory could only summon George Orwell’s quote:

We will join you in joyful occasions.
“When the killer talks about peace, look immediately for his victims.”

“Mr. Massad Boulos, Senior Advisor to US President Donald Trump, extends his gratitude to the State of the UAE, expressing his appreciation for meeting with His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs, His Highness Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan, National Security Advisor, and Dr. Anwar Gargash, Diplomatic Advisor to His Highness the President, during a visit to the UAE as part of joint efforts to advance peace and humanitarian aid in Sudan.”
Who is this man? And where did he come from?
Massad Boulos is an American of Lebanese descent, born in 1971. He studied law at the University of Houston in the US, then moved to Nigeria to join the family business, eventually becoming the CEO of SCOA Nigeria, a company specializing in vehicle assembly and sales. In 2022, his son Michael married Tiffany Trump, the former President’s youngest daughter.
Trump says of his advisor and son-in-law:
“He is a brilliant lawyer and a respected leader in the business world, a dealmaker, a supporter of peace in the Middle East, and a strong defender of US interests.”
He adds: “Massad is a staunch advocate for Republican and conservative values and has been instrumental in building broad alliances with the Arab-American community, while also possessing extensive international experience.”
Despite this praise, I found nothing in the man’s background that qualifies him to play any role in an issue as complex as the Sudanese war. The only attribute he seems to rely on is what his boss described him as: “a brilliant lawyer and a dealmaker.”
He saw the Sudanese war as a ripe opportunity to seize whatever he could, exploiting his knowledge of Trump’s mindset and his perennial desire to broker profitable deals.
The man places the experiences of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo on his table, along with Trump’s “humiliating” plan presented to the Ukrainians, which proposed granting the US half of their natural resources in exchange for financial and military support. It seems he envisioned the possibility of striking a similar deal in Sudan, like a “99-year agreement” of organized plunder, which I previously referred to as “The Shameful Sudan Deal.” We could reveal this deal in its entirety to shame Massad Boulos.
However, his hopes were dashed, and his period of assignment is nearing its end without any genuine breakthrough on the Sudanese file.
He then resorted to groveling before the Abu Dhabi regime, where he found his desired partner. He began echoing a misleading media narrative that fails to withstand the facts and cannot conceal the flaws of the major patron of militias and supporter of regional chaos. He brandishes the scarecrows of (the Muslim Brotherhood, the relationship with Iran, the Army and the ‘Kizan’…), all tunes he repeats in exchange for whatever the wealthy sponsor bestows upon him.
Trump’s America is making a mistake today by dealing with Sudan through a regional intermediary that sows chaos and funds militias, or through advisors who lack a true understanding of the region’s complexities. The goal for these people is not the solution, but rather to stay in the game for as long as possible and harvest the greatest gains.
The Saudi Move and Its Causes
The Abu Dhabi regime was thrown into disarray, displaying its clear rejection of the recent Saudi move regarding the Sudan file, especially following the Crown Prince’s visit to the US and his direct request for Trump’s intervention. The message is clear: the Trump advisor’s approach is no longer viable; in fact, its harm may now outweigh its benefit.
The Crown Prince’s move also came as a result of escalating threats from the “ambitious neighbor,” who has begun tampering with the security of the entire region, not just the Kingdom. (The Saudis have quietly hinted to the Americans that they will soon realize the burden this ally places on regional security, and that reining him in has become a necessity.) This is the crux of the matter; the rules of the game have changed, and they know it.
The UAE did not stop at betraying Saudi Arabia in the Yemen file when it supported division, funded the Southern Transitional Council (STC), and paved the way for the occupation of islands and ports. It is inconceivable for Riyadh to swallow the poison of the same neighbor twice, especially now as it sees the neighbor secretly communicating with the Houthis to save itself from their threats, throwing the entire burden onto “Ibn Salman’s Kingdom,” while simultaneously declaring war on them in front of Washington.
Al-Burhan’s Step
The Chairman of the Sovereignty Council, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, did well to welcome the Crown Prince’s initiative. The Sudanese leadership must develop this move into a complete solution initiative that neither bypasses the internal reality nor leaps over the will of the people.
He must not pay attention to Massad Boulos’s request to visit Port Sudan. The man has nothing to add, and all he seeks is to remain a player in the file in pursuit of personal gain. If America wants to help, it should appoint someone with knowledge and neutrality, not someone in the mold of “Mr. Big Broker.”
I conclude with the saying of Imam Ali, may God honor his face:
“Whoever rides the mount of patience will be guided to the field of victory.”