Faith Nyasuguta
The United States has officially determined that Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and their allied militias have committed genocide, accusing them of orchestrating atrocities against civilians based on ethnicity.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced sanctions against RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, and seven RSF-linked companies in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), targeting their financial networks and operations.
A Nation Torn Apart
The ongoing conflict between Sudan’s military and the RSF has plunged the country into chaos since its eruption in April 2023. The war, which stems from a power struggle ahead of Sudan’s planned transition to civilian rule, has killed tens of thousands and displaced over 11 million people internally.
Ethnically motivated violence, largely blamed on the RSF, has devastated communities. Reports reveal systematic murder of men and boys and the use of rape and sexual violence against women and girls. The RSF has also been implicated in mass looting and indiscriminate killings.
International agencies, including the World Health Organization (WHO), highlight the dire humanitarian crisis, with malnutrition, cholera, and famine affecting over half of Sudan’s population. Aid access remains severely restricted in conflict zones.
US Action and Global Criticism
The U.S. sanctions freeze any assets Dagalo and the RSF may have in the country, bar his family from traveling to the U.S., and impose penalties on entities engaging in financial dealings with the RSF.
Blinken emphasized that “the United States is committed to holding accountable those responsible for these atrocities.” He also criticized both the RSF and Sudanese military for perpetuating violence, declaring that neither party has the legitimacy to govern Sudan in the future.
The UAE has been accused of supplying weapons to the RSF, a claim it denies. However, a United Nations panel of experts found credible evidence linking the UAE to RSF resupplies.
Mixed Reactions
The RSF dismissed the sanctions, equating them to the historical condemnation of Nelson Mandela, while observers suggest the measures are a significant blow to the group’s efforts to establish political legitimacy.
Critics argue that the timing of these actions- just weeks before President Joe Biden’s term ends -might limit their immediate impact, positioning the U.S. more for historical accountability than practical policy shifts.
The situation in Sudan remains dire, with international bodies and governments called to end arms supplies to all warring factions. As famine and disease claim more lives, global pressure mounts for sustainable peace and accountability.
RELATED:
