US Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged the United Arab Emirates to help secure a humanitarian ceasefire in war-ravaged Sudan, officials said Wednesday.
Rubio raised the issue during a phone call with UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, according to a State Department statement.
The discussion reflected mounting international concern as Sudan’s conflict grinds on, devastating civilians caught between rival armed forces.
State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said the two officials also stressed the importance of restoring stability in Yemen amid continued threats from Iran-backed Houthi fighters.
Sudan has been engulfed in violence since April 2023, when fighting erupted between General Abdel Fattah al Burhan’s army and Rapid Support Forces.
The conflict has killed thousands, uprooted millions from their homes, and plunged the country into one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.
