Foreign
THE United States government has called for urgent measures to end the war in Sudan.
It says that the humanitarian crisis which trails the conflict has assumed a monumental level.
U.S State Department Special Envoy for Sudan, Tom Perriello, made this known during a digital news conference on Thursday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the humanitarian crisis was triggered by the ongoing war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and its breakaway paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.
The conflict erupted in April 2023 between former allies, who had jointly seized power in a 2021 coup.
According to Perriello, the scale of the crisis in Sudan has not attracted the requured global and media attention.
He said the Sudanese people were now more unified and clear about ending the war.
“They want an end to this war now. They want full humanitarian access. And they want their future back.
“And it is our job, all of us who care about the people of Sudan – around the world, around this neighborhood and beyond – to be urgently seized with the project of ending this war, preventing the worst of this famine, and giving the Sudanese people a chance to determine their own future.
“This is an urgent situation where we are seeing signs of famine already across the country of Sudan.
“We have known about horrific atrocities, particularly against women and children, forced recruitment, even slavery in this conflict that must end,” the envoy said.
Perriello said that the goal of the U.S mission in Sudan was urgent peace, which was same with the goal of Sudanese civilians and governments around the region.
He said that the situation was getting worse as the rainy season approaches with the humanitarian crisis at a breaking point.
“So the only true solution here is to silence the guns, and that is going to require not only General Burhan and General Hemedti to reach that deal but also for all of us across the region to be partners in peace.
“And particularly for those who have been fueling the conflict rather than fueling the peace efforts, we need that alignment now.
“And I think that’s the message first and foremost that we’ve been hearing from the Sudanese people and certainly something we’ve been hearing from our counterparts across the region,” Perriello said.
Speaking on how the U.S. planned to coordinate with global and regional partners to advance peace efforts in Sudan, the official said that the U.S. had seen several important efforts across the region.
The U.S. envoy said the many initiatives reflected the growing concerns across the region and a new sense of urgency for peace.
He expressed dismay about reports of “horrific” maltreatment of women in Sudan since the beginning of the conflict.
Perriello stressed that the Sudanese people were unified and clear in their desire to take their future back.
According to him, the desire of the Sudanese people is for the warring generals to meet and for the international and regional community to act as partners in peace.
He said that the U.S. believed that it was very important to engage with all forces involved and work with partners ready to participate in the peace process. (NAN)
22nd March, 2024.
C.E.
Tags: Tom Perriello United States
