US Secretary of State Blinken regrets failure to end Sudan conflict

Outgoing US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has voiced regret over his administration's inability to resolve the ongoing war in Sudan while urging the incoming administration to prioritise peace efforts.

Speaking at a farewell press conference on Thursday, Blinken acknowledged the devastating impact of the conflict, which has led to tens of thousands of deaths and displaced over 12 million people.

"It is for me, yes, another real regret that when it comes to Sudan, we haven't been able on our watch to get to that day of success," Blinken said.

He highlighted efforts to secure humanitarian assistance but admitted they had fallen short of ending the violence.

"There have been some improvements in getting humanitarian assistance in through our diplomacy, but not an end to the conflict, not an end to the abuses, not an end to the suffering of people," Blinken said.

Sanctions

Blinken recently determined that the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group engaged in a brutal conflict with Sudan's army since April 2023, had committed genocide.

He also accused the army of committing war crimes and criticized its refusal to engage in ceasefire negotiations.

On Thursday, the US imposed sanctions on General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the head of Sudan's army and the country's de facto president.

According to the US Treasury Department, Burhan was sanctioned for "destabilizing Sudan and undermining the goal of a democratic transition."

The sanctions come amid reports of civilian killings in Wad Madani, though these were not explicitly addressed in the US statement.

The US also accused Burhan's forces of carrying out lethal attacks on civilians, targeting schools, markets, and hospitals.

Last week, sanctions were also imposed on Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, the leader of the RSF, for his role in the genocide and other atrocities.

"We'll keep working at it for the next three days, and I hope the next administration will take that on as well," Blinken said, expressing hope that efforts to bring peace to Sudan will continue under the leadership of President-elect Donald Trump.