The U.S. President Joe Biden on Tuesday urged Sudan’s warring factions to resume peace talks and bring an end to the conflict that has persisted for more than 17 months.
“We urge all parties to halt the violence for the sake of Sudan and its people,” Biden stated. He called on the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) to withdraw, allow humanitarian aid, and re-engage in negotiations to resolve the war.
Since the conflict began on April 15, 2023, more than 12,000 people have died in Sudan. The war erupted from power struggles between Sudan’s army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which had shared control after a coup.
Biden criticised the RSF’s attacks for disproportionately affecting civilians and condemned the armed forces for their “indiscriminate” bombings that devastate lives and infrastructure.
The U.S. has already identified war crimes by both sides and imposed sanctions on 16 related individuals and entities. Biden stated that the U.S. will keep assessing further atrocity claims and considering additional sanctions.
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