United States: The United States has accused Russia’s Wagner Group of providing surface-to-air missiles to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), one side in Sudan’s ongoing conflict that has displaced nearly 1.3 million people.

The allegation against the mercenary group came as the US Treasury Department imposed sanctions on Wagner’s leader in Mali, accusing him of trying to obtain weapons for Russia’s war in Ukraine.

“The surface-to-air missiles in Sudan have contributed to “a prolonged armed conflict that only results in further chaos in the region”, the Treasury noted in a statement.

Since mid-April, hundreds of lives have been lost in the ongoing struggle for control over the state and its resources between the RSF and the Sudanese military, led by two rival generals.

Washington, meanwhile, has helped broker several ceasefire deals since the violence broke out. On May 22, the warring sides agreed to a weeklong truce, but as with previous ceasefire agreements, residents have reported continued clashes.

The US says its primary aim in Sudan is to reduce the violence before working towards a permanent end to the fighting and returning the country to civilian rule. Rights groups have warned of a humanitarian catastrophe if the conflict continues.

Recently, US Secretary of State Mr. Antony Blinken voiced concern about the prospect of Wagner’s involvement in Sudan, saying the group “simply brings more death and destruction” with it.

“It’s very important that we not see its further engagement in Sudan. And I know a number of countries are very concerned with that prospect,” Mr. Blinken stated.

The Treasury’s statement further remarked that Russian President Mr. Vladimir Putin has “resorted to relying on the Wagner Group to continue his war of choice” in Ukraine, which has been under a full-scale invasion since February 2022.

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