U.S.’s Blinken, African leaders push for truce implementation in Sudan
May 1, 2023 (KHARTOUM) – US Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed with two African leaders the ways to keep pressure on the warring parties in Sudan to abide by a humanitarian truce.
According to the State Department, Blinken held separate phone conversations with Kenyan President William Ruto and Comorian President and current African Union President Azali Assoumani to discuss the ongoing conflict in Sudan.
The Secretary thanked both leaders for their leadership and reiterated the US’s support for collective international action to end the fighting and ensure unimpeded humanitarian access.
During the calls, “They discussed the importance of continuing cooperation in pressing the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces to uphold the current ceasefire and begin negotiations on a more durable end to the conflict and unimpeded humanitarian access”.
The U.S. top diplomat stressed his support for the AU-led international effort to develop an urgent plan for de-escalation, as called for in the AU’s April 20 communiqué.
The ongoing conflict in Sudan has resulted in the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people and has caused a humanitarian crisis in the region.
The international community has been actively engaged in efforts to end the fighting and find a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
Only humanitarian truce
A Sudanese general Shames al-Din Kabbashi on Monday told Egyptian news TV channel Cairo that the Sudanese army might send representatives in the coming days to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia to discuss humanitarian cessation of hostilities only.
“We will not engage in political dialogue with the RSF, and we reject any political role for them,” he stressed.
Hemetti had called to resume the political talks with the Sudanese army over the integration of his paramilitary troops.
(ST)