BY JIBRIL TURE

According to a statement attributed to the State Department’s Principal Deputy Spokesperson, Vedant Patel, Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken “participated today in a special ministerial session under the leadership of African Union Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki.” The statement, which was released late in the evening, also said that “African, Arab, regional and international partners and organizations joined the session.”  The leaders agreed unanimously on the urgent need for an Eid al-Fitr ceasefire “to alleviate the suffering of the Sudanese people and to pave the way for a more permanent ceasefire.”

The U.S. top diplomat had separate talks with General Abdel Fattah al Burhan, Commander of the Sudanese Armed Forces, and with General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, Commander of the Rapid Support Forces. Mr. Blinken urged both military leaders to “implement and uphold a nationwide cease and sustain it through at least the end of Eid al-Fitr, Sunday, April 23.” He relayed “U.S. grave concern” about the risk to civilians, humanitarian and diplomatic personnel, including U.S. personnel.

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