US State Secretary Antony Blinken has warned the Sudanese army, led by Lt. Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) headed by Lt. Gen. Mohammad "Hemedti" Dagalo, of sanctions if they do not commit to the ceasefire announced after the Jeddah talks.
Blinken also announced Tuesday that the US is proud to provide $245 million in humanitarian assistance to support refugees, displaced persons, and host communities in Sudan and neighboring countries.
In a video message posted on the social media accounts of the US embassy in Khartoum, Blinken described the violence between the army and RSF as "tragic, senseless, and devastating."
He indicated that the ceasefire was designed to allow the delivery of humanitarian assistance and repair of essential services and infrastructure.
In his message to the Sudanese, the top official explained that the ceasefire deal includes, for the first time, a remote mechanism involving Saudi Arabia and the United States to monitor the ceasefire.
The 12-member mechanism includes three representatives of each warring party, three from the US and three from Saudi Arabia.
"If the ceasefire is violated, we'll know, and we will hold violators accountable through our sanctions and other tools at our disposal," said Blinken.
Observers believe Blinken's reference to "other tools" could mean imposing an embargo over Sudan.
"We facilitated the ceasefire, but it's the responsibility of the Sudanese Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces to implement it."
He indicated that the Jeddah talks on Sudan have had a narrow focus on "ending violence and bringing assistance to the Sudanese people."
"A permanent resolution of this conflict will require much more."
He asserted that Sudan's civilians must be the ones to "define the path going forward."
"You should lead a political process to restore Sudan's democratic transition and form a civilian government," Blinken said, addressing the Sudanese.
He reiterated Washington's support for a democratic government that supports the full diversity of the Sudanese people.
Under the agreement, the army and the RSF agreed to stop hostilities, looting civilian properties and humanitarian supplies and seizing civilian infrastructure such as hospitals, power plants, water pumps, and fuel stations.
Aid workers and civilians have reported widespread looting in Khartoum and elsewhere and a dire lack of basic services, medical care, food, and water.
The Doctors' Syndicate has also said that the RSF has seized hospitals. Allegations of sexual violence against women, including rape and gang rape in Khartoum and the restive western Darfur region, have also been reported.
In a separate statement, Blinken announced that last week the US announced $245 million in additional support to the people of Sudan and neighboring countries experiencing the impacts of the ongoing humanitarian crisis.
The funds include nearly $143 million from the Department of State's Bureau for Population, Refugee, and Migration and $103 million in additional humanitarian assistance from the US Agency for International Development's (USAID) Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance.
With this funding, our humanitarian partners can respond to the new needs arising from the current conflict, which has displaced approximately 840,000 people within the country and forced another 250,000 to flee since April 15.
The announcement brings total US humanitarian assistance for Sudan and neighbors Chad, Egypt, South Sudan, and the Central African Republic to nearly $880 million in FY 2023.
“The United States is by far the largest single donor to humanitarian needs in the Horn of Africa, and we will continue to work with international and local partners to provide food, water, medical care, and other lifesaving assistance for internally displaced persons, refugees, and others in dire need due to conflict,” Blinken said.
Sudan descended into chaos after clashes erupted between the Sudanese army and the RSF last month. The fighting killed hundreds of civilians and injured thousands of others, while one million fled their homes.
The fighting continued despite US and Saudi-mediated talks between the two parties. A new 7-day truce was announced last week and took effect Monday night.
