Sudan

The White House Statement April 22, 2023 Today, on my orders, the United States military conducted an operation to extract U.S. Government personnel from Khartoum. I am proud of the extraordinary commitment of our Embassy staff, who performed their duties with courage and professionalism and embodied America’s friendship and connection with the people of Sudan. I am grateful for the unmatched skill of our service members who successfully brought them to safety. And I thank Djibouti, Ethiopia, and Saudi Arabia, which were critical to the success of our operation. I am receiving regular reports from my team on their ongoing work to assist Americans in Sudan, to the extent possible. We are also working closely with our allies and partners in this effort. This tragic violence in Sudan has already cost the lives of hundreds of innocent civilians. It’s unconscionable and it must stop. The belligerent parties must implement an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, allow unhindered humanitarian access, and respect the will of the people of Sudan. We are temporarily suspending operations at the U.S. Embassy in Sudan, but our commitment to the Sudanese people and the future they want for themselves is unending. CLICK HERE to submit your press release to MyPR.co.za International/. President Joe Biden on the Situation in Sudan Submission Details Author: Africa Media from . More Info link: Images: For a high res version of THIS image please contact Facebook: Twitter: …

Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield U.S. Representative to the United Nations New York, New York April 17, 2023 AS DELIVERED Now I would like to make a statement on behalf of the United States on the situation in Sudan. We strongly condemn the ongoing fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces. This fighting threatens the security and safety of Sudanese civilians and undermines efforts to restore Sudan’s democratic transition. And it has killed nearly 100 people, including three World Food Program employees, who were working to save lives and feed the hungry. This simply must stop. We urge Sudan’s security services to end hostilities and end them immediately without preconditions. Now is the time to renounce violence and return to negotiations. We urge the security services to take active steps to reduce tensions and ensure the safety of all civilians, UN and other diplomatic personnel, and humanitarian workers. A ceasefire is the only way to resolve outstanding issues, ensure humanitarian access, and resume negotiations to put Sudan on the path toward a political deal. And in the meantime, all foreign actors must engage constructively and not further complicate the situation on the ground. The United States supports international diplomatic efforts by the Secretary-General, the African Union, Intergovernmental Authority on Development, League of Arab States, and other partners from the Horn of Africa and the Middle East to immediately end the violence. For our part, the UN Security Council must continue to monitor the situation closely. And we must demand an immediate end to the fighting. We must also support the efforts of the SRSG to secure agreements for a three-hour pause in fighting on April 16 and 17. Unfortunately, fighting seems to persist anyway. So, I am calling on the security services to recommit to their agreement to pause fighting and to make it permanent. It is simply tragic that the World …

Remarks Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State The Prince Karuizawa Japan April 17, 2023 SECRETARY BLINKEN: Good afternoon, everyone. It’s great to be here with my friend and colleague, Foreign Secretary Cleverly. We have been consulting very closely on the situation in Sudan. We’ve also been in close touch with partners in the Arab world, in Africa, in international organizations. There is a shared deep concern about the fighting, the violence that’s going on in Sudan; the threat that that poses to civilians, that it poses to the Sudanese nation, and potentially poses even to the region. There is also a very strongly shared view about the need for Generals Burhan and Hemeti to ensure the protection of civilians and noncombatants as well as people from third countries, including our personnel who are located in Sudan; and also a strongly held view – again, across all of our partners – on the need for an immediate ceasefire and a return to talks, talks that were very promising in putting Sudan on the path to a full transition to civilian-led government. People in Sudan want the military back in the barracks. They want democracy. They want civilian-led government. Sudan needs to return to that path. For our part, we’ve also been closely in touch, of course, with our own embassy to make sure that our personnel is safe and accounted for, which is the case. And we’re also closely in touch with any American citizens in Sudan to make sure that those who are registered with the embassy and that we’re actually in contact with get all the information they can about how to remain safe and secure. James. FOREIGN SECRETARY CLEVERLY: Secretary Blinken, thank you. Obviously, early on today we have had discussions about the situation in Sudan. We have – the UK has been in contact with our friends in the Arab region and we’ll continue to do so. But I echo the points that have been made already by Secretary Blinken that we call upon an immediate cessation of …

Readout Office of the Spokesperson April 17, 2023 The below is attributable to Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel: Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke separately today with General Abdel Fattah al Burhan, Commander of the Sudanese Armed Forces, and General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, Commander of the Rapid Support Forces, and underscored the urgency of reaching a ceasefire to permit the delivery of humanitarian assistance to those affected by the fighting, the reunification of Sudanese families, and allow the international community in Khartoum to make sure its presence is secure. The Secretary expressed his grave concern about the death and injury of so many Sudanese civilians due to the sustained, indiscriminate fighting, and stressed the responsibility of the two generals to ensure the safety and wellbeing of civilians, diplomatic personnel, and humanitarian workers. CLICK HERE to submit your press release to MyPR.co.za International/. Secretary Blinken’s Calls with General Abdel Fattah al Burhan, Commander of the Sudanese Armed Forces, and Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, Commander of the Rapid Support Forces Submission Details Author: Africa Media from . More Info link: Images: For a high res version of THIS image please contact Facebook: Twitter: …

Press Statement Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State April 15, 2023 I welcomed the opportunity April 15 to consult with Faisal bin Farhan al-Saud, Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahyan, Foreign Minister of the United Arab Emirates, about the dangerous fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Security Forces, which threatens the security and safety of Sudanese civilians and undermines efforts to restore Sudan’s democratic transition. We agreed it was essential for the parties to immediately end hostilities without pre-condition. I urge General Abdel Fattah Abdelrahman al-Burhan and General Mohamed Hamdan Degalo to take active measures to reduce tensions and ensure the safety of all civilians. The only way forward is to return to negotiations that support the Sudanese people’s democratic aspirations. We continue to remain in close touch with our Embassy in Khartoum and have full accountability of our personnel. We also have been communicating with American citizens who may be in the region about safety measures and other precautions. CLICK HERE to submit your press release to MyPR.co.za International/. Update on the Situation in Sudan Submission Details Author: Africa Media from . More Info link: Images: For a high res version of THIS image please contact Facebook: Twitter: …

United States Agency for International Development Readout January 25, 2023 The below is attributable to Spokesperson Jessica Jennings: On January 24, Administrator Samantha Power met with Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. They discussed the humanitarian situation in Somalia, advancing climate adaptation, and supporting the Federal Government of Somalia’s unprecedented efforts to diminish al-Shabaab’s corrosive influence across the country. The Administrator expressed condolences to the people of Somalia after recent al-Shabaab attacks, and pledged to stand with the Somali people in their time of need. President Hassan Sheikh thanked the U.S. government for providing two-thirds of all donor funding for drought response, totaling nearly $1.3 billion, since the beginning of Fiscal Year 2022. They agreed on the urgency of mobilizing additional international support to fund emergency relief efforts as Somalia faces the prospect of a sixth failed rainy season. Given the sustained and repeated climate shocks in the region, the two also discussed finding more sustainable and transformative ways to address and adapt to the impacts of climate change on Somalia’s food security, and agreed to coordinate efforts to encourage greater investment in Somali-led climate adaptation and resilience programs. The Administrator announced $5 million in USAID support to stabilization efforts that will help deliver urgently needed services to communities that have risen up against al-Shabaab. She further emphasized support for federal reconciliation, noting it as a necessary foundation for sustained progress on security, governance, and economic reform. CLICK HERE to submit your press release to MyPR.co.za International/. Administrator Samantha Power’s Meeting with Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, President of Somalia Submission Details Author: Africa Media from . More Info link: Images: For a high res version of THIS image please contact Facebook: …

Mark Simonoff Legal Advisor New York, New York January 25, 2023 AS DELIVERED Thank you, Mr. President. And thank you, Prosecutor Khan, for your report and for your briefing to the Council today on the Court’s ongoing investigations and prosecutions regarding the situation in Darfur. We appreciate your dedication and the unwavering commitment of the judges, attorneys, and staff of the International Criminal Court to the pursuit of justice for the people of Darfur. We continue to monitor the ongoing trial proceedings in the case involving former Janjaweed commander, Mr. Abd-Al-Rahman, also known as Ali Kushayb. This is a landmark case – the first trial against any senior leader for atrocities committed by the Omar al-Bashir regime and government-supported forces in Darfur and, more importantly, the first real opportunity for justice that victims of Darfur have had. We acknowledge the bravery of all of those witnesses and victims who have come forward. We also appreciate the work of court personnel who have facilitated their participation and ensured their safety and security. This is a crucial moment for Sudan’s future. Just a few weeks ago, the parties signed onto a framework political agreement for the restoration of Sudan’s democratic transition. After more than a year since the military takeover, this agreement, and the recent launch of Phase 2 dialogues on outstanding issues, are promising steps towards establishment of a final agreement to form a civilian government. The Framework Political Agreement also reflects the values of the 2019 revolution, recognizing the diversity of the Sudanese people and committing to creating a new state based on core democratic principles and human rights norms. The fact that these negotiations have happened at all is a testament to the Sudanese women, men, and youth who have persistently and courageously taken to the streets to demand their rights and to call for civilian rule, despite facing violence at the hands of …

John Kelley Political Counselor New York, New York December 7, 2022 AS DELIVERED Thank you, Madam President, and thank you, SRSG Volker, for your comprehensive briefing. The United States welcomes the announcement by Sudanese parties of an initial political framework agreement. This is an essential first step toward re-establishing Sudan’s democratic transition. There is now a credible path to a final agreement that would take Sudan out of its current political crisis. We commend parties’ efforts to garner support for this framework agreement from a broad range of Sudanese actors and their plans for an additional phase for continued, inclusive dialogue on key issues of concern. But time is of the essence. We urge all Sudanese actors to engage in dialogue in good faith and to establish a civilian-led transitional government as soon as possible. We fully support the UNITAMS-AU-IGAD role in facilitating the next phase of dialogue and concluding negotiations. The United States reiterates the need for the Sudanese government – including the military and security services – to fully respect the freedoms of association, expression, and peaceful assembly. The government and military must also fulfill their responsibility to protect the population and hold accountable those responsible for violence against civilians. We call on the government to create a more conducive environment for negotiations by releasing political detainees, ceasing violence against protesters, and reversing recent administrative decisions that undermine the Sudanese Bar Association and other professional organizations. The United States condemns the actions of spoilers inside and outside Sudan attempting to restrict political space and undermine Sudan’s stability and democratic transition. Similarly, we condemn recent violence, to which the SRSG just referred, in Darfur and Blue Nile states, which exacerbates the dire humanitarian situation and erodes the gains of the Juba …

Press Statement Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State December 7, 2022 We welcome the December 5 signing by Sudanese parties of an initial framework political agreement – an essential first step toward forming a civilian-led transitional government and establishing constitutional arrangements for a transitional period. We support the plans by Sudanese civilian parties and the military to hold inclusive dialogues on outstanding issues before concluding a final agreement and transferring authority to a civilian-led transitional government, and we call for quick progress toward these ends. In support of the Sudanese people’s demands for freedom, peace, and justice under a democratic government, and recognizing the fragility of democratic transitions, the United States will hold to account spoilers – whether military or political actors – who attempt to undermine or delay democratic progress. To that end, I am announcing today an expansion of the current visa restriction policy under Section 212(a)(3)(C) (or “3C”) of the Immigration and Nationality Act to cover any current or former Sudanese officials or other individuals believed to be responsible for, or complicit in, undermining the democratic transition in Sudan, including through suppressing human rights and fundamental freedoms, and the immediate family members of such persons. This action expands the Department’s tools to support Sudan’s democratic transition and reflects our continued resolve to support the people of Sudan in their manifest desire for a responsive and responsible civilian-led government. Just as we used our prior visa restrictions policy against those who undermined the former civilian-led transitional government, we will not hesitate to use our expanded policy against spoilers in Sudan’s democratic transition process. We once again call on Sudan’s military leaders to cede power to civilians, respect human rights, and end violence against protestors. At the same time, we urge …