WASHINGTON DC: The United States on Friday condemned Sudanese paramilitary forces’ “horrific” attack that killed more than 100 people in a village as it urged accountability and a resumption of ceasefire talks.
“The United States condemns the horrific attacks by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on unarmed civilians,” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said.
“Attacks on civilians throughout Sudan must stop now. There can be no military victory in this war,” he said in a statement.
The RSF, which has been at war with the regular army since April 2023, on Wednesday attacked the central village of Wad Al-Noura in Al-Jazira state with heavy artillery, according to democracy activists.
The activists shared footage of what it said was a mass grave and gave a death toll of at least 104.
The United States and Saudi Arabia brought together the warring forces for talks in the Saudi city of Jeddah shortly after the outbreak of the violence, producing a temporary humanitarian ceasefire agreement that quickly collapsed.
US diplomats have been pushing for months for a return to talks but have made little headway.
“Both the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces must ensure the protection of civilians and hold accountable anyone within their ranks who is responsible for war crimes or violations of the Jeddah Declaration,” Miller said.
US demands accountability over ‘horrific’ Sudan village attack
https://arab.news/bz5cy
US demands accountability over ‘horrific’ Sudan village attack
- RSF, which has been at war with the regular army since April 2023, attacked central village of Wad Al-Noura
Somali president visits city claimed by breakaway region
MOGADISHU: Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Friday visited a provincial capital claimed by the breakaway region of Somaliland -- the first visit there by a sitting president in over 40 years.
The visit to Las Anod, the administrative capital of the Sool region, comes amid heightened diplomatic tensions in the Horn of Africa after Israel officially recognised Somaliland, drawing strong opposition from Mogadishu.
Mohamud was attending the inauguration of the president of the newly created Northeast State, which became Somalia's sixth federal state in August.
It was the first visit by a Somali president since 1984.
Somalia is a federation of semi-autonomous states, some of which have fraught relations with the central government in Mogadishu.
The Northeast State comprises the regions of Sool, Sanaag and Cayn, all territories Somaliland claims as integral to its borders.
Somaliland had controlled Las Anod since 2007 but was forced to withdraw in 2023 after violent clashes with Somali forces and pro-Mogadishu militias left scores dead.
Mohamud's visit "is a symbol of strengthening the unity and efforts of the federal government to enforce the territorial unity of the Somali country and its people", the Somali president's office said.
