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The United States has officially accused Sudan’s paramilitary group, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), of committing genocide during the ongoing conflict in the country, and has imposed sanctions on its leader, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, also known as Hemedti.
In a statement on Tuesday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken explained that the sanctions were a response to Hemedti’s role in orchestrating “systematic” atrocities against the Sudanese people throughout the 20-month war. Blinken accused the RSF and its allied militias of committing brutal murders, including the killings of men, boys, and even infants, along with horrific sexual violence against women based on their ethnicity. Additionally, the militias have been blamed for attacking civilians trying to flee the violence and for murdering 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 stated.
In response, the RSF accused the US of hypocrisy and failing to address the root causes of the crisis. Hemedti’s adviser, El-Basha Tbaeq, argued that the US decision would exacerbate the Sudanese crisis and hinder attempts to find a peaceful resolution.
The conflict, which has raged since April 2023, has seen both the RSF and the Sudanese military accused of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and ethnic cleansing. The RSF has been particularly implicated in atrocities in Darfur, where the group has allegedly targeted and killed non-Arabs. The ongoing war has created one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, with estimates suggesting up to 150,000 people have been killed and millions displaced. Famine has been declared in several regions, and 24.6 million people—half the population—are in dire need of food aid.
Blinken reiterated that neither the RSF nor the Sudanese military should have any role in Sudan’s future governance, stating that both sides bear responsibility for the violence and suffering that has torn the country apart.
The US sanctions target Hemedti and his immediate family, barring them from entering the US and freezing any assets they may hold there. In addition, seven RSF-affiliated companies operating in the UAE, most connected to Sudan’s lucrative gold trade, have also been sanctioned for helping the RSF procure weapons. The UAE has denied allegations of arming the RSF, but the US Treasury has pointed out that one of Hemedti’s brothers, Algoney, has maintained access to millions of dollars held in an account associated with one of these companies, AZ Gold.
The RSF has long controlled some of Sudan’s most valuable gold mines, particularly in North Darfur, and is now believed to control additional mining operations in areas near the border with the Central African Republic.
This move against Hemedti and the RSF represents a significant escalation in US efforts to pressure the group, though it may not have an immediate impact on the fighting itself. While Hemedti is not believed to have assets in the US, the sanctions are likely to disrupt the RSF’s business operations and may influence regional actors and financial institutions in their dealings with the group.
The move also raises questions about the future of Sudan’s governance. With the RSF controlling nearly half of the country, including Darfur and much of Khartoum, the military has been forced to retreat to the east, complicating efforts to form a legitimate, unified government. Whether the US sanctions will lead to renewed peace talks remains unclear, although there have been recent indications that the Sudanese military may be open to Turkish mediation, with possible involvement from the UAE.
While the sanctions signal a hardening of the US stance on the RSF, it remains to be seen whether they will result in meaningful change on the ground or lead to a breakthrough in the broader international efforts to end the violence.
