Sudan unrest: Blinken issues warning as US diplomatic convoy comes under fire

Tokyo: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken reported on Tuesday that a US diplomatic convoy came under fire in Sudan on Monday in what seemed to be an attack by fighters connected to Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), calling the action "reckless" and "irresponsible."

Blinken issued a clear warning in response to the event, calling the head of the RSF, General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, also known as Hemedti, and the commander of the Sudanese army, General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, individually to inform them that any threat to American diplomats was unacceptable, Reuters reported.

“We have deep concerns about the overall security environment,” Blinken stated at a press conference in Japan, where he had just finished attending a meeting of the foreign ministers of the Group of Seven.

At least 185 people have died and more than 1,800 have been injured in fighting in Sudan, where both sides have claimed victory in a confrontation that has involved artillery and airstrikes.

Fighting has persisted despite repeated requests from the US and other nations for it to stop, as well as attempts by Egypt and the United Arab Emirates to persuade the parties involved to agree to a cease-fire.