US urges warring parties in Sudan to curb abuses amid worsening humanitarian crisis

A US envoy on Tuesday called on Sudan’s warring parties to enforce a code of conduct to counter widespread abuses, saying the military was reviewing the proposal after rival paramilitary forces joined.

The United States held talks in Geneva this month to end the brutal war that has created one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. Progress has been made on aid access, but no ceasefire has been reached.

For the latest news, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.

The Rapid Support Forces (RSF), accused of numerous abuses, including in Darfur, have agreed to a code of conduct that includes a commitment to refrain from violence against women and crop destruction.

“These new commitments must be reflected in the actions of RSF forces on the ground, who have committed ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity against Sudanese civilians since the war began,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement Monday.

Tom Perriello, the US negotiator on Sudan, said the United States also presented the proposal to the military, which unlike the RSF did not appear in Switzerland.

“They have the code of conduct in front of them. We hope to get a response from them in the coming days,” Perriello told reporters on Tuesday.

He said the commitment of RSF leader Mohammed Hamdan Daglo had to be enforced with force.

“The goal is not to get a signature on a piece of paper,” Perriello said.

“It is about changing behaviour so that we no longer see rape and sexual slavery as a weapon of war, we no longer see exploitation and intimidation at checkpoints, we no longer see indiscriminate shelling of civilian areas, including hospitals and homes,” he said.

The conflict that broke out in April 2023 has killed tens of thousands of people, forced one in five Sudanese from their homes and caused acute famine for more than 25 million people – more than half the population.

Read more:

Sudan army chief says he won’t join peace talks, ‘will fight for 100 years’

Sudan’s warring parties agree to two safe aid routes: mediators

Mediators want three humanitarian routes opened in Sudan, US envoy says