US calls for Immediate cessation of attacks in Sudanese El Fasher city

Washington, DC, US (PA A) - The United States is calling on all armed forces in Sudan to immediately cease attacks in the Sudanese city of El Fasher, North Darfur.

A statement issued by Mr. Matthew Miller, Spokesperson for the Department of State, said the US was "alarmed by indications of an imminent offensive by the Rapid Support Forces and its affiliated militias".

It warned that an offensive against El Fasher city would "subject civilians to extreme danger", including the hundreds of thousands of displaced persons who have taken refuge there.  

The US said it was deeply troubled by credible reports that the RSF and its affiliated militias had razed multiple villages west of El Fasher.  

"We also condemn reported indiscriminate aerial bombardments in the region by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and their continued limitations on life-saving humanitarian aid access."

"The leaders of the SAF and RSF and their affiliated militias face a choice – escalate the violence and perpetuate the suffering of their people while risking the disintegration of their country, or cease attacks, allow unhindered humanitarian access, and prepare in good faith for negotiations to end this war and restore power to the people of Sudan," the US said.

Fighting that started in April last year in a power struggle between the leaders of the SAF and RSF has led to thousands of deaths, destruction to infrastructure and also triggered a huge humanitarian crisis in the country.

A UN report has noted that 20.3 million people – or 42 per cent of the population – struggled to find enough to eat last year. 

-0- PANA MA 25April2024