U.S. convoy attacked in Sudan

A U.S. diplomatic convoy was fired on by gunmen believed to be affiliated with the Sudanese Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia in Khartoum, Secretary of State Tony Blinken confirmed on Tuesday.

The incident occurred Monday night, the latest attack on foreign diplomats and international organizations in Khartoum since fighting broke out in the country on Saturday.

Earlier, gunmen entered the EU ambassador’s residence in the capital Khartoum and attacked the ambassador.

– How attack happened

Fighting broke out between the RSF and Sudan’s main armed forces on Saturday. The latest United Nations figures report 185 confirmed deaths, not distinguishing between civilians and military personnel.

Newspaper Al-Arabiya said at least 100 rounds were fired at the U.S. convoy during the attack.

A U.S. State Department spokesman told American Axios that neither John Godfrey, the U.S. ambassador to Sudan, nor his car were in the convoy at the time.

– Learn more

Blinken called the attack “reckless and irresponsible,” but said no U.S. personnel were harmed in the attack. Speaking at a press conference at the end of the G7 Foreign ministers summit in Japan, he said that the vehicles in the convoy had diplomatic license plates and were marked with U.S. flags.

Blinken said that initial reports suggested the attack was conducted by gunmen affiliated with the RSF militia, which has been fighting the Sudanese military in recent days.

He said he spoke on the phone on Tuesday with the commander of the Sudanese military General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the commander of the RSF militia Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo — better known as Hemedti — and stressed the attack on the U.S. convoy was unacceptable.

– Rejecting a ceasefire

Blinken said he proposed to the two generals a 24-hour humanitarian ceasefire in Sudan that would allow the delivery of aid and could be a basis for a more stable cessation of hostilities.

The RSF said on Tuesday that it agreed to a 24-hour cessation of hostilities after discussions with Blinken and other “friendly nations,” according to a statement posted on Twitter on Tuesday.

But Sudan’s army swiftly rejected the declaration of a cease-fire by the RSF, as battles continued between forces loyal to the nation’s two top generals continued for a fourth day in the capital.

“We are not aware of any coordination with mediators and the international community about a truce, and the rebellion’s declaration of a 24-hour truce aims to cover up the crushing defeat it will receive within hours,” the Sudanese Armed Forces said in a statement posted on its Facebook page. “We have entered a critical phase and our efforts are focused on achieving its objectives.”