US condemns 'horrific attacks' on Sudan village

WASHINGTON

The US on Friday condemned the "horrific attacks" by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on unarmed civilians in Wad al-Noura in Sudan’s Gezira state, which claimed the lives of over 100 people.

"It is imperative that the RSF take immediate action to stop these attacks and demonstrate swift accountability for those responsible for the murder of civilians," State Department said in a statement.

"Both the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces must ensure the protection of civilians and hold accountable anyone within their ranks who is responsible for war crimes or violations of the Jeddah Declaration," it added.

Stressing that attacks on civilians throughout Sudan must stop, it said there can be "no military victory in this war, whose toll is being measured in the tragic loss of civilian lives, displacement of millions from their homes, acute malnourishment, rape and torture, and ethnic cleansing."

The US also called for the resumption of cease-fire negotiations, an immediate end to obstructions of humanitarian aid deliveries, and a return to civilian governance, it added.

Since the war began in mid-April 2023 and spread across most of Sudan's states, the army has maintained control in the northern and eastern states, while the RSF has been active in the western and southern states.

Efforts to end the conflict through talks in Jeddah mediated by Saudi Arabia and the US, a peace initiative led by neighboring countries under Egypt's leadership, the efforts of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development in East Africa and discussions in Bahrain's capital Manama have all failed to yield results.

According to the UN, the conflict in Sudan has resulted in over 16,000 deaths, displaced approximately 8.7 million people and left over 25 million people in need of humanitarian assistance, making it one of the world's largest displacement and hunger crises.