The United States has accused Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and aligned militias of committing “genocide”, leading to the imposition of sanctions on the paramilitary leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, also known as Hemeti.
According to Washington, Hemeti has been blacklisted “for his role in systematic atrocities committed against the Sudanese people” in the country’s brutal civil war. The US has barred him and his immediate family members from entering the country, marking the first time that Hemeti has been directly targeted by these measures.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated, “The RSF and allied militias have systematically murdered men and boys — even infants — on an ethnic basis, and deliberately targeted women and girls for brutal sexual violence.”
The conflict in Sudan, which has been ongoing since April 2023, has seen accusations of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and ethnic cleansing leveled against both the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces, led by de facto President General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan.
Efforts by President Joe Biden’s administration to mediate between the two factions have so far been unsuccessful. The RSF, a descendant of the Janjaweed horseback militia accused of genocide in Darfur 20 years ago, has been a key player in the conflict.
In addition to targeting Hemeti, the US Treasury has imposed sanctions on seven RSF-owned companies based in the UAE for their role in procuring weapons for the paramilitary force. Despite denials from the UAE, reports suggest that the country has been facilitating arms shipments to the RSF in Sudan.
The conflict in Sudan has not only led to a humanitarian crisis but has also attracted various profiteers, mercenaries, and foreign powers such as Russia and Iran, all seeking to capitalize on the turmoil for their own gains. These external influences have further complicated efforts by UN agencies to provide aid to those affected by the conflict.
