(Washington) US President Joe Biden on Tuesday called on parties to the conflict in Sudan to resume negotiations to end the war that has been going on since April 2023 and has left tens of thousands dead, pushing the country to the brink of famine.
“I call on the belligerents […] to withdraw their forces, facilitate humanitarian access and re-engage in negotiations to end this war,” he said in a statement, issued days after heavy fighting erupted again in Darfur.
Joe Biden is referring to the recent fighting in El-Facher, the only capital of Darfur’s five states not in the hands of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which have been besieging the city since May.
The siege of the city has recently turned into a “total offensive,” he said, listing the horrors that civilians have faced since the start of the conflict.
Darfur regional governor Mini Minawi said last week that the army had repelled “a large attack” by the RSF, but the latter claimed to have advanced and captured military sites in the city, the capital of North Darfur state.
The war broke out in April 2023 between the army led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhane and the FSR, led by his former deputy, Mohamed Hamdane Daglo. The American president recalled on Tuesday that this war created “one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world”, with nearly “10 million displaced people”.
The United States launched discussions in Switzerland on August 14 to expand humanitarian access and establish a ceasefire, with the American special envoy for Sudan, Tom Perriello.
They concluded about ten days later, without a truce, but with a commitment by the belligerents to guarantee safe and unhindered access for humanitarian workers on two key roads.
U.S. aid to Sudanese civilians has reached $1.6 billion in two years, Biden added in the statement.
“Let us be clear: The United States will not abandon our commitment to the Sudanese people who deserve freedom, peace, and justice. We call on all parties to the conflict to end the violence,” he concluded.