OSLO – Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned Thursday that the US would take action against competing Sudanese leaders if a US-brokered truce falls apart.
The US is “looking at steps we can take to make clear our views on any leaders who are moving Sudan in the wrong direction, including by perpetuating violence and violating cease-fires that they’ve actually committed to,” Blinken told reporters.
Blinken did not specify what actions Washington might take, or whether it would individually target the heads of the army and opposing paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, or take a broader stance.
After the army announced its pullout on Wednesday, Blinken, who was in Oslo for NATO meetings, said the US will remain engaged but stopped short of criticizing one side for violating the agreement.
Blinken admitted widespread violations of a series of cease-fires mediated by the US and Saudi Arabia between the army and the Rapid Support Forces.
“We did see the continuation of humanitarian assistance.” But it’s been exceedingly imperfect and delicate,” Blinken explained.
“Now we’re seeing actions — again, by both sides — that are clearly in violation of the commitments they made,” he explained.
A number of US legislators and activists have chastised President Joe Biden’s administration for failing to take earlier action, such as sanctioning army head Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan and paramilitary commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo.
US diplomats have suggested that preserving ties is more beneficial than negotiating between them.
