US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Jan. 7 declared that Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and allied militias have committed genocide during the country's ongoing civil war. This would mark the second genocide Sudan has seen in less than three decades, following the Darfur genocide of the early 2000s. Blinken's statement outlined atrocities perpetrated by the RSF, including ethnically targeted massacres of men, boys and infants, as well as widespread sexual violence inflicted upon women and girls. "Those same militias have targeted fleeing civilians, murdering innocent people escaping conflict, and prevented remaining civilians from accessing lifesaving supplies," he said.

The conflict, which erupted in April 2023 between the RSF and Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), has escalated into one of the world's most severe humanitarian crises. Over 28,000 people have been killed, millions displaced, and famine has gripped parts of the nation, forcing families to resort to eating grass to survive. The UN estimates over 30 million Sudanese are in dire need of humanitarian aid.

In tandem with the genocide determination, the US imposed sanctions on RSF leader Mohammad Hamdan Daglo Mousa, also known as Hemedti, and seven RSF-linked companies based in the UAE. Hemedti, a former leader of the Janjaweed militia responsible for the Darfur genocide, faces visa restrictions barring him and his immediate family from entering the US. The sanctions also target the RSF's alleged smuggling of gold to fund operations.

Amnesty International has also raised the alarm widespread looting and attacks on civilians in Darfur and other regions, calling for an immediate end to hostilities and unrestricted humanitarian aid access.

While Blinken emphasized that the US does not support either side in the war, he underscored the RSF's disregard for international humanitarian law and commitments to protect civilians. The conflict's roots lie in tensions over security reforms during negotiations for a transitional government, but it has devolved into a struggle for control of the country, causing widepread devastation.

From JURIST, Jan. 7. Used with permission.

See our last reports on the RSF and "Hemeti."