The White House announced Tuesday that the United States is actively working with several international partners to end the civil war that has ravaged Sudan for over a year. This statement comes amid reports of large-scale massacres in the city of Al-Fashir, which recently fell to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a powerful paramilitary group fighting against the Sudanese national army.
“The United States has been actively engaged in efforts to achieve a peaceful resolution to the terrible conflict in Sudan,” said White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt. Washington says it is coordinating its actions with other countries and regional organizations to try to secure a lasting ceasefire and relaunch an inclusive political process.
The fall of al-Fashir, the Sudanese army's last strategic stronghold in the Darfur region, marks a major advance for the RSF, which now controls nearly a quarter of Sudanese territory. This paramilitary victory was accompanied by extreme violence: according to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, hundreds of civilians were reportedly executed, and numerous testimonies describe scenes of atrocities, including the forced separation of men, women, and children, followed by shootings. The RSF has denied any responsibility for these crimes.
The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court has announced the opening of an investigation into allegations of massacres and rapes committed in the city. Investigators are currently collecting evidence and testimonies with a view to possible prosecutions for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Since the outbreak of the conflict in April 2023, Sudan has been plunged into a spiral of violence and humanitarian chaos. Millions of people have been displaced, while access to food and healthcare is becoming increasingly limited. Despite numerous mediation attempts, notably by the United States, Saudi Arabia, and the African Union, no lasting peace agreement has yet been reached.
For Washington, the situation in Al-Fashir illustrates the urgent need for a concerted international response. The United States is calling for both increased pressure on the warring parties and strengthened support for humanitarian efforts to prevent Darfur and the rest of the country from descending into an even deeper catastrophe.
