The United States has accused Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of committing genocide during the 20-month-long conflict, imposing sanctions on RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, also known as Hemedti.
On Tuesday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that Dagalo was being penalized for his involvement in “systematic” atrocities against the Sudanese people, including the killings of men, boys, and infants, and acts of sexual violence against women based on ethnicity. Blinken also accused RSF of targeting fleeing civilians and executing innocent people attempting to escape the conflict.
“Based on this information, I have now concluded that members of the RSF and allied militias have committed genocide in Sudan,” Blinken remarked.
In response, the RSF dismissed the US move as a reflection of “double standards” and criticized President Joe Biden’s administration for its failure to effectively address the crisis in Sudan. Dagalo’s advisor, El-Basha Tbaeq, expressed concerns on social media that the sanctions would hinder efforts to resolve the root causes of the conflict.
The RSF, which has been engaged in combat with General al-Burhan’s forces (SAF) since April 2023, has faced mounting allegations of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and ethnic cleansing, particularly in the western Darfur region, where non-Arab civilians have been targeted.
The ongoing conflict has triggered one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises, with approximately 150,000 people believed to have died, according to US special envoy Tom Perriello. Famine has been declared in multiple areas, with nearly 25 million people—half of Sudan’s population—requiring urgent food aid.
Blinken further stated that neither the RSF nor SAF could be trusted to govern the country. “Both belligerents bear responsibility for the violence and suffering in Sudan and lack the legitimacy to govern a future peaceful Sudan,” he said.
The sanctions against Dagalo prevent him and his immediate family members from entering the US and freeze any personal assets in the country. Additionally, seven RSF-owned companies based in the UAE and one individual associated with the group are also targeted by the sanctions for their involvement in procuring weapons for the paramilitary forces.
The UAE has denied claims of funding and arming the RSF.