The war between the generals for power in Sudan is a “tragedy” and “must stop”, US President Joe Biden said on Thursday in a press release issued by his services, threatening sanctions, on the 20th day of hostilities. and fighting continued to rage in Khartoum.

The US president said in a statement that he had signed a presidential executive order authorizing his administration to proceed with the imposition of sanctions against “persons who threaten the peace, security and stability of Sudan; who undermine the transition [του] to democracy; who use violence against civilians; and commit serious human rights violations.”

The State Department confirmed that sanctions were being considered and that Washington reserved the right to impose them at a later date, without giving a timetable or any indication of possible targets.

“I can assure you that we will use this new authority appropriately to hold accountable those responsible for the violence,” said Vedant Patel, deputy spokesman for the US State Department.

Joe Biden in his announcement repeated his call for a “lasting ceasefire” between the military and the paramilitaries.

The Director of US Intelligence (DNI) Avril Haynes warned yesterday Thursday, during a Senate hearing, that a “prolonged” conflict should be expected, as “both camps believe they have the ability to prevail by military means” and have ” little incentive to sit down at the negotiating table.”

Like other officials at the international level, he also warned that the fighting could cause “huge migration flows and aid needs in the region”.

Khartoum was shaken yesterday Thursday for the twenty consecutive day by fire and explosions, despite the -theoretical- truce until May 11.

Since April 15, the war between the forces of General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the paramilitaries of General Mohamed Hamdan Daglo’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has claimed the lives of at least 700 people, according to ACLED, an American NGO that counts the victims of armed conflicts.

The fighting has also injured more than 5,000 people, while at least 335,000 Sudanese have been displaced and 115,000 forced into exile in other countries, according to the UN.

As for the hasty evacuation of civilians, the US announced on Thursday that it was “facilitating” the escape of about “2,000” people, including at least “1,300” US citizens, from the country since the outbreak of hostilities, as announced by US diplomacy.

Washington had already suspended the activities of its embassy in Khartoum in the first days of the fighting and hastily evacuated its diplomatic staff by helicopter in a Special Forces operation.