US says militia committing genocide in Sudan, sanctions leader
The US has imposed sanctions on January 7th on Sudanese paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and its leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, also known as Hemedti, reports Reuters. The US State Department also declared that the RSF is committing genocide in Sudan
The RSF, which has been fighting against the Sudanese military government since April 2023, have been found to have directed attacks against civilians, systematically killed men and boys on an ethnic basis and also subjected women and girls from certain ethnic groups to ‘brutal’ rapes and sexual violence, as stated by Secretary of State Antony Blinken on a statement from Tuesday.
This is an update on Blinken’s judgement of war crimes and ethnic cleansing in December 2023, eight months into the conflict.
Two years on, the armed conflict between Hemedti’s RSF fighters and the Sudanese Armed Forces for control over Sudan has killed over 28,000 people, displaced 12 million, and triggered famine and disease outbreaks. Other estimates suggest a far higher total death toll.
The RSF and its proxy militias have targeted and killed fleeing civilians and prevented those remaining from accessing lifesaving supplies, says Blinken.
This determination of genocide in Sudan has no current legal implications, however Hemedti and his associated companies in the UAE have been placed under sanctions.
The United Arab Emirates has been frequently accused of arming the RSF, accusations it has denied. Neither Emirati officials, nor the RSF have not responded to requests for comment.
Blinken’s determination was reportedly not intended to voice his support for either side but instead to evaluate the presence of war crimes and to promote accountability from leadership.
Reuters
