The Sudanese army has been at war with rival paramilitaries since April 2023 in a conflict that has killed tens of thousands of people and uprooted more than 12 million, including millions who face a worsening hunger crisis.
"It is for me, yes, another real regret that when it comes to Sudan, we haven't been able on our watch to get to that day of success," Blinken said at a farewell news conference.
There have been "some improvements in getting humanitarian assistance in through our diplomacy, but not an end to the conflict, not an end to the abuses, not an end to the suffering of people," he said.
"We'll keep working at it for the next three days, and I hope the next administration will take that on as well," he said.
The US Treasury Department announced Thursday that it had slapped sanctions on Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the leader of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), over the military's "lethal attacks" against civilians.
The US Treasury accused the SAF of committing attacks against schools, markets, and hospitals, denying humanitarian access, and using food deprivation as a war tactic.
"Today's action underscores our commitment to seeing an end to this conflict," US Treasury Deputy Secretary Wally Adeyemo said in a statement.
"The United States will continue to use our tools to disrupt the flow of weapons into Sudan and hold these leaders responsible for their blatant disregard of civilian lives," he added.
Since 2023, the SAF has been locked in a battle for control of Sudan against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), led by Burhan's former deputy Mohamed Hamdan Daglo.
Earlier this month, the United States also imposed sanctions against Daglo and the RSF, accusing the group of committing genocide in Sudan's Darfur region.
Across the country, more than 24.6 million people -- around half the population -- face "high levels of acute food insecurity," according to a recent review by the UN-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification.
US sanctions leader of Sudan's armed forces
Washington (AFP) Jan 16, 2025 -
The United States unveiled sanctions Thursday against the head of Sudan's armed forces over the military's "lethal attacks" against civilians, just days after it designated his rival and former deputy.
The US Treasury Department said in a statement that it had sanctioned Abdel Fattah al-Burhan over attacks by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) following the outbreak of war in 2023 between Burhan and his former deputy Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, who commands the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
The United States sanctioned Daglo and the RSF on January 7, accusing the group of committing "genocide" in Sudan's Darfur region.
On Thursday, the Treasury Department accused the SAF of committing attacks against schools, markets, and hospitals, denying humanitarian access, and "using food deprivation as a war tactic."
"Today's action underscores our commitment to seeing an end to this conflict," said US Treasury Deputy Secretary Wally Adeyemo.
"The United States will continue to use our tools to disrupt the flow of weapons into Sudan and hold these leaders responsible for their blatant disregard of civilian lives," he added.
The US Treasury also announced sanctions against Sudanese-Ukrainian national Ahmad Abdalla, and Hong Kong-based firm Portex Trade Limited for allegedly procuring weapons for the SAF on behalf of a sanctioned supplier.
Earlier Thursday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he regretted his inability to end the brutal war in Sudan and voiced hope that President-elect Donald Trump's administration would keep trying to do so.
"It is for me, yes, another real regret that when it comes to Sudan, we haven't been able on our watch to get to that day of success," he said at a farewell news conference.
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