because of "grave violations". Jeddah talks suspended, US sanctions on Sudanese parties

The United States and Saudi Arabia announced the suspension of Jeddah talks on Sudan as sponsors of the negotiations, and Washington imposed sanctions on Sudanese actors it said were perpetuating violence.

A U.S. Embassy in Khartoum said the decision by Washington and Riyadh was the result of repeated "grave violations" of the short-term ceasefire and the extension of the ceasefire by the Sudanese Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

The statement said that the two sides committed serious violations of the ceasefire, including the occupation of civilian homes, private companies, public buildings and hospitals, air and artillery strikes, and these violations directly affected humanitarian aid efforts.

The co-sponsors of the negotiations informed the parties of the steps they will have to take to demonstrate their serious commitment to the Jeddah talks, in particular confidence-building measures.

In Riyadh, the Saudi Foreign Ministry expressed concern about the kingdom and the United States over serious violations of the ceasefire in Sudan and the Jeddah Declaration.

The Saudi Foreign Ministry added in a joint statement with its US counterpart that the violations have harmed civilians and the Sudanese people, and impede the delivery of humanitarian aid and the return of services.

Once it is clear that the parties are serious about complying with the ceasefire, the two countries are ready to resume discussion, the statement said, urging the parties in Sudan to seriously abide by the ceasefire and support humanitarian efforts.

U.S. Sanctions

Meanwhile, White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said the United States has imposed economic sanctions and visa restrictions on Sudanese actors that perpetuate violence, amid fears of protracted conflict and widespread suffering in the country, as a ceasefire between Sudan's military and the Rapid Support Forces failed.

Sullivan said in a statement issued Thursday that the sanctions aim to hold accountable those responsible for undermining peace, security and stability in Sudan, holding the warring parties responsible for the unjustified violence and defying the will of the Sudanese people.

For his part, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that Washington imposed sanctions on the company "Sudan Master Technology" for its role in supporting companies producing weapons and vehicles for the Sudanese army, and imposed sanctions on the Military Industrialization Authority, which is run by the state and produces equipment and weapons for the army.

Blinken added that his country has also imposed sanctions on the UAE-based company Tradef General Trading, which is used by the RSF to purchase equipment for its troops, as well as the Junaid Gold Mining Company, which is also affiliated with the Support Forces.

Blinken confirmed visa restrictions on figures including Sudanese military and RSF officials and commanders from the regime of Omar al-Bashir.

The US secretary said the sanctions were in response to abuses by the Sudanese military and swift support for the commitments they made in Jeddah, adding that they were "ready to take additional action, and we will continue to work with the parties for humanitarian assistance and silence the guns."

John Kirby, coordinator of strategic communications at the US National Security Council, said he hoped Sudanese army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo (Hemedti) would be seriously punished for obstructing a political solution.

Kirby added – in an interview with Al Jazeera – that measures have been taken against companies and bodies that provide weapons to the warring parties in Sudan, pointing out that the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces do not respect the rights of the Sudanese people, and do not work hard to cease fire and return to civilian authority in Sudan.

Sudanese reply

On the other hand, an informed source in the Sudanese army told Al Jazeera that the US sanctions do not affect much on the capabilities of the Sudanese army, as the army manufactures what it needs inside the country.

The source also said that the US sanctions have a significant impact on what he called the "Rapid Support Militia", as they target the financial empire of the Hemedti family, according to the same source.

In turn, the Sudanese ambassador in Washington, Mohammed Abdullah Idris, said that sanctions should be imposed on the non-compliant party, and added – in an interview with Al Jazeera – that imposing sanctions on Sudanese state institutions means imposing sanctions on the Sudanese people.

The Sudanese ambassador in Washington added that the Sudanese army carried out what it signed, and that it suspended the Jeddah negotiations on the same conditions demanded by Washington.

On the other hand, an informed source in the Rapid Support Forces told Al Jazeera that the US sanctions are aimed at pressuring the Sudanese army and rapid support to make concessions.