U.S. Calls for immediate cessation of attacks in El Fasher

October 2, 2023 (KHARTOUM) – The United States has called for an immediate cessation of attacks in El Fasher, North Darfur, Sudan, expressing deep concern over reports of an imminent large-scale attack by Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement on Wednesday that the United States is “deeply troubled” by reports of the impending attack, which would put civilians, including hundreds of thousands of displaced persons, at extreme risk.

“Credible reports indicate that both the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) have failed to take necessary measures to prevent civilian casualties in residential neighbourhoods of El Fasher,” Blinken said.

The United States called on the warring parties to immediately cease further attacks in and around El Fasher to uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law concerning civilians.

“We echo Governor Nimr Abdulrahman’s appeal to the warring parties to allow civilians to safely move to more secure areas,” Blinken stressed.

Increased fighting in El Fasher follows recent RSF attacks in Nyala, Zalengei of the Darfur region.

The United States condemned reported abuses by the RSF and allied forces in connection with their assault on Nyala, including civilian deaths, arbitrary arrests, detention of medical personnel, and looting of health facilities.

“We call on the SAF and RSF to utilize the recently resumed Jeddah talks to facilitate unhindered humanitarian access and agree on ceasefires and other confidence-building measures,” Blinken said. “There is no acceptable military resolution to this conflict – the focus must be on protecting civilians, providing humanitarian assistance, and negotiating an end to the conflict.”

The U.S. statement comes as tensions escalate in Sudan, with the military and paramilitary forces at odds. The country has been in a political crisis since a coup in October 2021, and there are growing concerns about a civil war.