U.S. has determined that Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces committed genocide and imposed sanctions on their leader

The United States announced on Tuesday that it has determined that members of Sudan‘s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and their allied militias have committed acts of genocide in Sudan. In response, the U.S. imposed sanctions on the leader of the RSF due to a conflict that has resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands and displaced millions from their homes.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that the RSF and associated militias have persistently targeted civilians, systematically executing men and boys based on their ethnicity, and have intentionally assaulted women and girls from specific ethnic groups through rape and other forms of sexual violence.

Blinken further noted that these militias have also attacked civilians attempting to flee the violence, resulting in the deaths of innocent individuals seeking safety. “The United States is dedicated to ensuring accountability for those responsible for these heinous acts,” he remarked.

The U.S. has imposed sanctions on RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, prohibiting him from entering the United States and freezing any U.S. assets he may possess. The Treasury Department highlighted that for nearly two years, Dagalo’s RSF has been engaged in a violent conflict with the Sudanese Armed Forces over control of the country, leading to tens of thousands of deaths, the displacement of 12 million Sudanese, and widespread famine.

The conflict between Sudan’s army and the paramilitary RSF has persisted for over 18 months, resulting in a humanitarian crisis that has hindered U.N. agencies from providing necessary relief. The violence escalated in April 2023 amid a power struggle between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF, coinciding with efforts to transition to civilian governance.