US urges warring parties to cease spreading war to other areas in Sudan
Khartoum, Sudan (PANA) - The United States has warned the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) against continuing their attack against the second largest city in the Sudan, Wad Medani, which lies 196 km south of Khartoum and has become a safe haven for hundreds of thousands of civilians running away from Khartoum and other war affected areas.
The US administration called on the RSF to refrain from advancing on Al Gezira state, south of Khartoum, immediately and to stop attacking the town of Wad Medani.
The RSF on Friday launched a massive attack against Medani, though of little military significance but of huge demographic and agricultural importance. Although the Sudanese Army has repulsed the attack on Friday and said it inflicted heavy losses on the attackers, still thousands of civilians have started another displacement experiences, not heeding to government reassurances that the situation was under control.
On Saturday the fighting resumed once again outside the Medani. The state Department issued a statement pointing to “violent clashes” which are currently underway between the Sudanese armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces outside Wad Madani town for the second day running.
The US state Department urged the RSF in Sudan “to cease their advance in Gezira State immediately and to refrain from attacking Wad Medani”.
The statement read by Matthew Miller, Department Spokesperson, said it was receiving troubling reports which indicated that elite RSF units had travelled to reinforce attacks in the direction of Wad Medani, actions that threaten vulnerable civilians in a manner inconsistent with RSF’s stated claims that it is fighting to protect Sudan’s people.
“We also urge against Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) clashes with the RSF and other actions that are endangering civilians,” the statement underlined.
It pointed out that Wad Medani had become a safe haven for displaced civilians and is an important hub for international humanitarian relief efforts.
A continued RSF advance risks mass civilian casualties and significant disruption of humanitarian assistance efforts.
The statement warned that the RSF advance had already caused large-scale displacements of vulnerable civilians from Gezira State – many of whom have nowhere else to go – and closure of markets in Wad Medani on which many people rely.
“We are also deeply concerned by reports of renewed fighting in the northeastern suburbs of El Fasher on December 16, including credible reports that several internally displaced persons were injured by stray gunfire.
It pinpointed that like Wad Medani, El Fasher had become a safe haven for civilians driven from their homes by fighting. Such advances undermine confidence in efforts to reach a lasting ceasefire and a negotiated end to the conflict.
They gravely threaten vulnerable civilians.
“We join Sudanese human rights defenders in calling on the parties to stop firing from positions in or near IDP camps, or returning fire toward those positions, recklessly endangering civilian lives,” the state department said.
-0- PANA MO/RA 17Dec2023
