Biden calls for Sudan parties to 're-engage' in peace talks

WASHINGTON, Sept 18 (AFP): US President Joe Biden on Tuesday called for Sudan's warring parties to "re-engage" in peace talks and facilitate humanitarian access, in some of his most direct comments yet on the country's deadly conflict.

"I call on the belligerents responsible for Sudanese suffering-the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) -- to pull back their forces, facilitate unhindered humanitarian access, and re-engage in negotiations to end this war," Biden said in a statement.

"Let it be clear: the United States will not abandon our commitment to the people of Sudan who deserve freedom, peace, and justice," he added.

Sudan's war began in April last year and has already killed tens of thousands of people, with some estimates as high as 150,000, according to US envoy Tom Perriello.

In August, US mediators launched a new bid to broker an end to fighting-but while RSF leaders attended in Switzerland, the SAF were unhappy with the format and did not join, though they were in telephone contact with the mediators.