US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken made two separate phone calls, one with the Sudanese army commander, Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, and the other with the commander of the Rapid Support Forces, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hamedti).
A statement by the US State Department said that Blinken “stressed the urgent need to reach a ceasefire, to allow the delivery of humanitarian aid to those affected by the fighting, to reunite Sudanese families, and to ensure safety for international community organizations in Khartoum.”
The Minister also expressed grave concern over the killing and injury of many Sudanese civilians due to the ongoing and indiscriminate fighting, and stressed the responsibility of the two leaders to ensure the safety and well-being of civilians, diplomatic personnel and humanitarian workers.
The fighting between the army and the Rapid Support Forces in Sudan began on Saturday, and is still going on, without any party willing to negotiate yet.
On Twitter, Hemedti said he had a “lively” conversation with the US Secretary of State, during which they discussed “pressing issues in Sudan and our shared devotion to freedom, justice and democracy for our people.”
Hemedti added, “We recognize the challenges ahead and stand firm against extremism that undermines our progress towards a just and democratic society. Despite the unwillingness of those involved in this war, it is necessary to protect our people and defend our values.”
“We reaffirmed our firm commitment to protecting innocent civilians in our areas of control, which reflects our respect for human dignity and the sanctity of life,” he added.
Hemedti expressed his “gratitude” to Blinken and the United States “for their continued support and shared commitment to restoring stability in Sudan.”
He concluded, “We will have another call to continue dialogue and work hand in hand in order to build a brighter future for our peoples.”
