News from April 2023


Special Envoy Fowler Travels to Davis, California

U.S. Department of State Special Envoy for Global Food Security Dr. Cary Fowler will travel April 23-26 to University California Davis to visit the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Horticulture and the Innovation Lab for Markets, Risk and Resilience.


Sudan: Travel Advisory Remains Level 4 – Do Not Travel

On April 22, 2023, the U.S. Embassy in Khartoum suspended its operations, and the Department of State ordered the departure of U.S. direct hire employees and eligible family members due to the continued threat of armed conflict in Sudan.



On the Announcement of an Eid al-Fitr Ceasefire in Sudan

I welcome the announcements by the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces that they intend to abide by a three-day Eid al-Fitr ceasefire.


Secretary Blinken’s Diplomacy to Arrange an Eid al-Fitr Ceasefire in Sudan

The following is attributable to Vedant Patel, Principal Deputy Spokesperson:


Secretary Antony J. Blinken At a Press Availability

Good afternoon, everyone. Let me – let me start with the situation in Sudan. For the past 36 hours, we and our partners have been focused on how to stop the widespread fighting in Sudan between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces.


Zimbabwe National Day

On behalf of the Government of the United States of America, I congratulate the Zimbabwean people as you celebrate the 43rd anniversary of your independence.


Joint Statement on the Third U.S.-Kenya Bilateral Strategic Dialogue

News Release: The text of the following statement was released by the Governments of the United States of America and the Kenya on the occasion of U.S.-Kenya Bilateral Strategic Dialogue in Washington, D.C. on April 24, 2023.


The United States Welcomes Release of Detainees from Yemeni Conflict

The United States welcomes the release of nearly 900 detainees from all sides of the Yemen conflict.


Secretary Antony J. Blinken And U.K. Foreign Secretary James Cleverly On the Situation in Sudan

Good afternoon, everyone. It’s great to be here with my friend and colleague, Foreign Secretary Cleverly.


Rewards for Justice – Reward Offer for Information on Hizballah Leader Ibrahim Aqil

Today, on the 40th anniversary of Hizballah’s bombing of the U.S. Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon, the U.S. Department of State’s Rewards for Justice (RFJ) program, which is administered by the Diplomatic Security Service, is announcing a reward of up to $7 million for information leading to the identification, location, arrest, and/or conviction of Hizballah key leader Ibrahim Aqil.


40th Anniversary of the Embassy Beirut Bombing

Today, we remember the victims of a heinous terrorist attack at the U.S. Embassy in Beirut forty years ago, killing 63 people.


Targeting Hizballah Sanctions Evasion Network

Today, the Department of State and the Department of Treasury are taking actions against a global sanctions evasion network that facilitates the payment, shipment, and delivery of cash, art, and luxury goods for the benefit of Hizballah financier and Specially Designated Global Terrorist Nazem Said Ahmad.


Deputy Secretary Sherman’s Call with UAE Presidential Advisor Gargash

The below is attributable to Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel:


Deputy Coordinator for Counterterrorism Ian Moss Fireside Chat with Matthew Levitt

Thank you to the Washington Institute for Near East Policy and to Matt Levitt for inviting me to join you today to discuss the progress we’ve made on the repatriation of ISIS detainees and family members from northeast Syria, and our work to counter violent extremism more broadly.


Statement on Arrests of Political Opponents in Tunisia

The arrests by the Tunisian government of political opponents and critics are fundamentally at odds with the principles Tunisians adopted in a constitution that explicitly guarantees freedom of opinion, thought, and expression.


United States Imposes Sanctions on Iranian Military Procurement Network

The United States remains firmly committed to taking action to disrupt Iran’s military programs and its procurement networks.


Designating Iranian Officials in Connection with Serious Human Rights Abuses Or Censorship in Iran

The United States condemns Iran’s continued human rights abuses and remains committed to supporting the people of Iran as they face the brutality of the Iranian regime and demand respect for their fundamental freedoms.



Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs Lu’s Travel to the Kyrgyz Republic and Tajikistan

Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu will travel to the Kyrgyz Republic and Tajikistan on April 22-27.