Biden urges Sudan's warring parties to resume negotiations

U.S. President Joe Biden on Tuesday called on Sudan's warring parties to re-engage in negotiations to end a war that has lasted more than 17 months.

“We call for all parties to this conflict to end the violence and refrain from fueling it, for the future of Sudan and all Sudanese people,” Biden said in a statement.

“I call on the belligerents responsible for Sudan’s suffering—the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF)—to pull back their forces, facilitate unhindered humanitarian access, and re-engage in negotiations to end this war.”

More than 12,000 people have been killed across Sudan since the war began on April 15, 2023.

The conflict erupted when competition between Sudan's army and the paramilitary RSF, which had previously shared power after staging a coup, escalated into open warfare.

Biden said the RSF’s actions are disproportionately harming Sudanese civilians and urged the armed forces to stop “indiscriminate” bombings that are destroying civilian lives and infrastructure.

The U.S. previously determined that both sides committed war crimes and sanctioned 16 individuals and entities linked to the conflict. Biden said the United States will continue to evaluate further atrocity allegations and potential additional sanctions.

Reuters