The United States is alarmed by the recent increase of indiscriminate air, artillery strikes in Sudan, including in Khartoum, South Darfur, and South Kordofan states, which have resulted in high numbers of civilian casualties.
In a statement released by the State Department Spokesman, Mathew Miller on Wednesday while called on the warring parties to end this brutal conflict, saying the Sudanese people deserve freedom, peace, and justice.
According to the statement, “We are particularly concerned with the reported Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) September 10 air strike in southern Khartoum that killed at least 43 people.
“The August 23 shelling exchange between SAF and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) that killed at least 27 people – most of them women and children – in Nyala and continued shelling in a number of areas, including with the use of barrel bombs”.
The United States noted that both parties have instigated unrelenting violence that has caused death and destruction across Sudan. “As we have said before, both parties must comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law, including obligations related to the protection of civilians.
“The SAF and RSF each affirmed those responsibilities in the May 11 Jeddah Declaration of Commitment to Protect the Civilians of Sudan, and each has failed to live up to them in the months since. The United States continues to support accountability for perpetrators of atrocities in Sudan”.
Almost five months have passed since the deadly conflict erupted between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The fighting shows no sign of abating while neither side appears close to a decisive military victory.
Fierce fighting continues in the capital, with the main battles around strategic installations and recurrent attempts by the SAF (the Sudanese Armed Forces) to drive the RSF (the Rapid Support Forces) out of civilian neighbourhoods.
At least 5,000 people have been killed since the start of the conflict, and over 12,000 injured. And these are conservative figures, and the actual number is likely much higher.
In Darfur, violence has worsened dramatically, and the warring parties have demonstrated blatant disregard for human rights and international humanitarian law. Civilians have been targeted on an ethnic basis and driven out of El Geneina and other locations in Darfur.