THE United States announced sanctions yesterday on Sudanese leaders it blames for the breakdown of US and Saudi-brokered ceasefire efforts after shelling and air strikes killed 18 civilians at a Khartoum market.

For nearly seven weeks, Khartoum and other parts of Sudan have been gripped by deadly fighting between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), both of which Washington held responsible for violating the ceasefire and provoking “appalling” bloodshed.