Violent clashes in Sudan between the army and paramilitary groups must end “immediately,” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Saturday.
The top US diplomat said he was “deeply concerned” about the reports of fighting. He said US embassy staff in the capital Khartoum are all “currently accounted for.”
“We urge all actors to stop the violence immediately and avoid further escalations or troop mobilizations and continue talks to resolve outstanding issues,” he tweeted from Hanoi, Vietnam, where he is passing through on his way to a Group of Seven (G7) foreign ministers’ meeting in Japan.
Blinken’s reaction comes after one by the executive secretary of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (Igad).
Dr Workneh Gebeyehu said in a statement that he was extremely alarmed by reports of fighting in different parts of Khartoum between Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and Rapid Support Forces (RSF), and was following the situation closely.
Dr Workneh urged both sides to immediately cease fighting, de-escalate the situation, and resolve their differences through dialogue.
Igad noted that Sudanese parties and stakeholders including SAF and RSF have made commendable progress in the past few months towards signing a final political agreement and forming a civilian-led transitional government.
Dr Workneh said, “These reports of fighting will cause not only a setback but also serious insecurity and instability to Sudan and the region at large.”
He urged both sides to give dialogue a chance, cease hostilities and allow the Sudanese people to continue observing Ramadhan in peace.
“Igad will continue to stand in solidarity with the people of Sudan in their aspiration for peace,” he said.
