WILMINGTON, Del. – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) issued the following statement regarding recent reports of a new offensive by Rapid Support Forces in Jazira State as part of the ongoing Sudanese Civil War:
“While the world’s attention is focused on Russia’s brutal war in Ukraine and the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas that has led to a humanitarian crisis in Gaza, we cannot afford to forget about other conflicts that pose a significant risk to civilian lives and U.S. interests.
“One of these pressing conflicts is the eight-month-long war in Sudan between the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) that has killed 12,000 innocent civilians, displaced more than 7 million people from their homes, and forced more than 18 million people into famine-like hunger and catastrophic living conditions. Despite multiple attempts at peace talks and both sides committing to calls for a cease-fire during a recent regional summit in Djibouti, it appears that the RSF is now backtracking and opening a new front in the war.
“I am alarmed by reports of an RSF offensive in Sudan’s Jazira State, which has become an important humanitarian hub and a safe refuge for more than half-a-million people fleeing the capital’s violence. I strongly condemn the ongoing violence between the RSF and SAF and urge both sides to uphold their commitments made in Djibouti last week to implement a cease-fire and hold a political dialogue. Ultimately, the only way to achieve peace and stability in Sudan is through meaningful political discussion that includes Sudan’s civil society. I stand with the Sudanese people, and I am committed to providing humanitarian assistance to those suffering from this war and pursuing accountability for war crimes in Sudan.”
Senator Coons is a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.