WASHINGTON: The US State Department said on Saturday that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Sudanese army leader Gen. Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan have discussed efforts to reach “an effective short-term truce” in the African country.
Sudan Crisis: Blinken Discusses Truce, Saudi Talks During Call with General Burhan
The two sides held telephonic conversation over the current situation in Sudan. Blinken wrote on his Twitter, “I spoke with Sudan’s General Burhan regarding the current talks to reach an effective short-term truce to facilitate humanitarian help and also restore essential services desperately needed by the people in Sudan,”. The US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said “In this step-by-step process, the US Secretary of State urged flexibility and leadership,”.
I spoke this morning with Sudanese General Burhan about ongoing talks to reach an effective short-term ceasefire to facilitate humanitarian assistance and restore essential services desperately needed by the Sudanese people.
— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) May 20, 2023
The call focused on the “current talks” that were held in Jeddah with Arab leaders and ministers on the sidelines of the 32nd Arab League Summit.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken also condemned the “violence by both sides that has resulted in the death of many people, underlining that deal in Jeddah would permit the provision of humanitarian help and essential services that are desperately needed by the people in Sudan,” Miller added in a statement.
“The US is unwavering in its support of the democratic aspirations of the people of Sudan for a civilian government and a democratic and stable Sudan,” he maintained.
The war in Sudan, which has now entered its 6th week, has trapped civilians in a humanitarian crisis and displaced about 1.1 million people internally and into neighboring nations. The World Health Organization (WHO) says over 700 people have been killed and about 5,300 injured nationwide.
