Massad Boulos, the senior adviser to US President Donald Trump on Africa, on Wednesday urged warring parties in Sudan to immediately agree to a ceasefire.
Sudan's warring rival military forces this month agreed in principle to a three-month humanitarian truce but the deal has yet to be implemented.
“The United States urges the parties to the conflict in Sudan to immediately agree to and implement the proposed humanitarian truce,” Mr Boulos said on X.
“The suffering of civilians has reached catastrophic levels, with millions lacking food, water and medical care."
He said a “strong text” for a truce had been put forward, with the hope that both sides will commit swiftly and without political or military posturing that will cost more lives.
“The people of Sudan cannot wait any longer. It is time to act,” Mr Boulos said.
The war between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), now in its third year, has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced at least 13 million. About 30 million – more than half of the population – are facing hunger, with famine declared in El Fasher and other areas of Darfur.
Speaking during a meeting of G7 ministers in Canada on Wednesday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the warring sides were “clearly receiving assistance from outside”, and that “pressure is being applied to all relevant parties” to stop this.
Mr Rubio also expressed doubts about the RSF’s agreement to a humanitarian ceasefire, saying “they don’t intend to comply with it”.
The RSF's recent capture of El Fasher – which was followed by mass killings and atrocities by fighters, according to civilians who fled the city – has sparked fears of an escalation in the war.
“And when you raise the issue of these atrocities, they always hide behind the argument that this is rogue elements," Mr Rubio said.
"Well, it’s not rogue elements … they’re doing it systematically, and it’s something that we have taken very seriously and are doing everything we can to bring the relevant countries to the table to stop it. It needs to end.”
