The US has determined that Sudan’s RSF committed genocide during the ongoing civil war, marking the second such occurrence in Sudan’s recent history. Secretary of State Antony Blinken detailed the group’s systematic violence against civilians and announced sanctions against RSF leadership, while reiterating that the US does not support either warring faction.
The United States has officially classified the actions of Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) as genocide amidst the civil war that has ravaged the region for over a year. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced this decision, detailing that the RSF and its allied militias committed heinous acts, including systematic attacks against civilians, ethnic-based killings, and brutal sexual violence directed at women and girls. These acts lay bare a tragic continuation of Sudan’s history of violence, following the Darfur genocide less than thirty years ago.
The context of this assessment arises from the ongoing civil war in Sudan, which commenced in April 2023, pitting the RSF against the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF). Secretary Blinken previously condemned both factions for war crimes and other human rights violations. The US government has engaged in scrutiny of the situation, aiming to address the sustained suffering faced by the Sudanese people, thus prompting this latest designation of genocide.
In light of the findings presented by Secretary Blinken, the United States has also enacted sanctions against RSF leader Mohammad Hamdan Daglo Mousa, or ‘Hemedti.’ The measures include visa restrictions designed to hold accountable those responsible for the atrocities committed against civilians. However, Blinken emphasized that the US does not endorse either side of the conflict, underscoring the need for responsible governance in Sudan beyond mere sanctions.
Original Source: www.cnn.com
