US accuses sudan’s RSF of genocide, imposes sanctions on leaders
The United States has officially determined that the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and allied militias in Sudan have committed acts of genocide, announcing sanctions against the group’s leader in response.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken accused the RSF of carrying out systematic atrocities against civilians, including the murder of men and boys and the use of sexual violence against women and girls, targeting individuals based on their ethnicity.
“The United States is committed to holding accountable those responsible for these atrocities,” Blinken declared, reiterating the Biden administration’s pledge to pursue justice for the victims.
Genocide and ethnic violence
The RSF, a powerful paramilitary group in Sudan, has been embroiled in a devastating conflict with the Sudanese military for the past 18 months. The brutal war has claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced over 11 million people internally, leaving a trail of destruction and human suffering in its wake.
According to a study by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, thousands more have died from indirect causes such as disease and starvation, exacerbated by the conflict.
“The RSF and RSF-aligned militias have continued to direct attacks against civilians,” Blinken stated, highlighting that fleeing civilians have been targeted and killed, while others have been denied access to lifesaving supplies.
Sanctions against RSF leadership
The US Treasury Department has imposed sanctions on RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, also known as Hemedti. The sanctions freeze any US-based assets he may hold and bar him from entering the country.
Additionally, the Treasury announced sanctions on seven RSF-owned companies operating in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), further targeting the group’s financial networks.
Humanitarian crisis
The ongoing conflict has devastated Sudan’s civilian population. International organisations, including the World Health Organization (WHO), have struggled to deliver aid to affected areas, where food, medicine, and other critical supplies remain scarce.
“Malnourished children and mothers are dying due to lack of access to care, and cholera is spreading in many parts of the country,” WHO’s regional director Hanan Balkhy warned during an October briefing.
The United Nations has also criticised countries supplying weapons to the RSF and the Sudanese army, accusing them of “enabling the slaughter” and urging an immediate cessation of arms sales.
Sudan’s government has accused the UAE of arming the RSF, though the Gulf nation has denied these allegations.
Broader implications
The US announcement of genocide and its subsequent sanctions come amid increasing scrutiny of Washington’s own role in global conflicts. Critics have pointed to the ongoing crisis in Gaza, where the US has been accused of enabling severe human rights abuses through its support for Israel.
While the US has strongly condemned the RSF for its actions in Sudan, it has denied allegations of genocide in Gaza, where nearly 46,000 Palestinians have been killed in an Israeli military campaign backed by American military aid.
International reactions
The US determination of genocide by the RSF is expected to escalate international pressure on the group and its leadership. However, experts warn that sanctions alone are unlikely to bring an end to the violence in Sudan.
The conflict has turned Sudan into one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, with little progress in efforts to secure a ceasefire or establish a pathway to peace. Observers argue that without sustained international engagement, the situation is likely to deteriorate further.
For now, the US sanctions signal a clear condemnation of the RSF’s actions and a commitment to pursuing justice for the victims of the atrocities in Sudan. Whether this will bring tangible change to the ground, however, remains uncertain.
