The United States has accused Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of committing genocide and imposed sanctions on its leader, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, also known as Hemedti. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken made the announcement on Tuesday, citing the RSF’s role in “systematic” atrocities against the Sudanese people during the 20-month conflict.
The RSF and allied militias have been responsible for the murder of civilians, including men, boys, and infants, as well as brutal sexual violence against women on ethnic grounds. The militias have also targeted fleeing civilians and murdered innocent people escaping the conflict.
In response, the RSF has accused the US of double standards and failing to effectively address the ongoing crisis. Hemedti’s adviser, El-Basha Tbaeq, stated that the US decision may complicate the Sudanese crisis and hinder negotiations to address the root causes of the conflict.
The conflict between the RSF and the Sudanese military has led to one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, with estimates suggesting up to 150,000 people have been killed. Famine has been declared in several parts of the country, with 24.6 million people in urgent need of food aid.
The sanctions imposed by the US bar Hemedti and his immediate family members from visiting the US, and any personal assets there are blocked. Seven RSF-owned companies based in the United Arab Emirates and one other individual are also being sanctioned for helping the paramilitary group procure weapons.
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