US Diplomatic Convoy Attacked in Sudan: Blinken Reacts

A US diplomatic convoy came under fire in Sudan on Monday, according to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

The incident occurred amidst ongoing fighting between rival forces in Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, which has left 185 people dead and over 1,800 injured in just three days, according to the UN.

Blinken condemned the attack, calling it “reckless, irresponsible, and of course unsafe.”

Meanwhile, the EU’s ambassador to Sudan, Aidan O’Hara, was assaulted at his home in Khartoum, though he was not seriously injured.

Irish Foreign Minister Micheál Martin described the attack as a “gross violation of obligations to protect diplomats,” and called for an “urgent cessation of violence in Sudan and resumption of dialogue.”

The conflict in Sudan is between army units loyal to de facto leader Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a notorious paramilitary group commanded by Sudan’s deputy leader, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo. The RSF has been accused of numerous human rights abuses, including the Darfur genocide.

The fighting has forced many civilians to shelter in their homes amid fears of a prolonged conflict that could land the country in deeper chaos.

Hospitals have also been shelled, and damage was reported at al-Shab Teaching Hospital in Khartoum, along with two other clinics.

While both sides briefly held a ceasefire on Sunday to allow for the evacuation of the wounded, it remains unclear whether they will agree to further negotiations. However, there are some signs that progress could be made.

The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (Igad), a regional organization, plans to send the presidents of South Sudan, Djibouti, and Kenya to Sudan to try to broker peace.

Igad’s executive secretary, Nuur Mohamud Sheekh, said that both leaders are agreeable to mediation, which he called “a very positive development over the last few hours.”

The US has not yet announced plans to evacuate its personnel, despite ongoing security concerns and the closure of Khartoum’s airport.

Nevertheless, John Kirby, a State Department spokesman, urged all Americans to treat the situation “with the utmost seriousness.”