US Accuses Sudan’s RSF of Genocide, Imposes Sanctions on Leader

The United States has formally accused Sudan‘s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of committing genocide and imposed sanctions on its leader, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced the decision on Tuesday, citing systematic atrocities against the Sudanese people during the 20-month conflict.

Blinken stated that the RSF and allied militias were responsible for the murder of men, boys, and infants, as well as brutal sexual violence against women on ethnic grounds. The militias have also targeted fleeing civilians, killing 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 said.

In response, the RSF accused the U.S. of double standards and failing to effectively address the ongoing crisis. Hemedti’s adviser, El-Basha Tbaeq, criticized the Biden administration’s decision, claiming it complicates the Sudanese crisis and hinders negotiations to resolve the conflict’s root causes.

The RSF has been fighting the Sudanese military since April 2023, with growing international outcry over its conduct. The U.S. had previously determined that the RSF and other militias engaged in war crimes, crimes against humanity, and ethnic cleansing in Darfur, where non-Arab communities have been targeted. Both sides have been accused of atrocities, leading to one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.

According to U.S. special envoy for Sudan Tom Perriello, estimates suggest up to 150,000 people have been killed in the conflict. Famine has been declared in several parts of Sudan, with 24.6 million people—about half the population—in urgent need of food aid. Blinken emphasized that neither the RSF nor Sudan’s military are fit to govern, stating, “Both belligerents bear responsibility for the violence and suffering in Sudan and lack the legitimacy to govern a future peaceful Sudan.”

The sanctions bar Hemedti and his immediate family members from entering the U.S., and any personal assets they hold in the country are blocked. Seven RSF-owned companies based in the United Arab Emirates and one individual are also sanctioned for aiding the paramilitary group in procuring weapons. The UAE has denied accusations of funding and arming the RSF.

Most of the sanctioned companies are linked to the gold trade, including AZ Gold, which imports gold from Sudan. The U.S. Treasury revealed that one of Hemedti’s brothers, Algoney, maintained access to AZ Gold’s UAE bank account, which held millions of dollars. Hemedti and the RSF control lucrative gold mines in Jebel Amer and Songo, near the Central African Republic border.

The sanctions mark a significant intervention by the Biden administration, which has faced criticism for not doing enough to end the conflict. The designation may receive bipartisan support from Congress and signals to the incoming administration how the U.S. views the RSF. While the sanctions may not immediately impact the fighting, they increase pressure on regional backers to distance themselves from the RSF.

The RSF controls about 50% of Sudan, including Darfur, Khartoum, and areas south of the capital, while the Sudanese military has retreated to Port Sudan. It remains unclear whether the U.S. designation will revive ceasefire talks, though the Sudanese army has recently hinted at accepting Turkish mediation with the UAE.