A three-day cease-fire between Sudan’s warring factions went into effect Tuesday after what the United States called “intense negotiation.” 

Both the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) publicly pledged to uphold the halt in fighting. 

“To support a durable end to the fighting, the United States will coordinate with regional and international partners, and Sudanese civilian stakeholders, to assist in the creation of a committee to oversee the negotiation, conclusion, and implementation of a permanent cessation of hostilities and humanitarian arrangements in Sudan,” U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.   

Blinken added that the U.S. will work with Sudanese parties “toward the shared goal of a return to civilian government in Sudan.” 

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At least 427 people have been killed and more than 3,700 wounded, according to U.N. agencies, since fighting began April 15. 

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres Monday called on U.N. Security Council members “to exert maximum leverage with the parties to end the violence, restore order and return to the path of the democratic transition.” 

The Security Council is due to hold a meeting about Sudan on Tuesday. 

Guterres also said the U.N. is not leaving Sudan but has temporarily relocated “hundreds” of staff members inside and outside of the country.     

Amid the fighting, countries have rushed to evacuate their diplomats and citizens from Sudan. 

Canada, Egypt, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden and the United States are among the nations using aircraft and convoys to bring foreign nationals out of Sudan.      

A majority of U.S. government personnel who evacuated the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, arrived Monday afternoon in Washington. 

Sudanese nationals are fending for themselves amid power blackouts and loss of internet service.        

Some Sudanese have made the decision to escape in cars and buses on the dangerous roads.    

Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. VOA’s Margaret Besheer contributed to this report.  
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