The Biden administration has determined that Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and their allied militias are committing genocide amid the ongoing civil war with the Sudanese military. Secretary of State Antony Blinken cited systematic attacks against civilians, including ethnically targeted murders and sexual violence.
In response, the U.S. Treasury Department has imposed sanctions on RSF leader Mohammad Hamdan Daglo Mousa, known as Hemedti, and seven RSF-affiliated companies based in the United Arab Emirates. The UAE has been accused of supplying arms to the RSF, though it denies these allegations.
The conflict, which began in April 2023, has resulted in over 28,000 deaths, with some estimates suggesting a much higher toll. Millions have been displaced, and famine has affected parts of Sudan, making it one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises.
The U.S. government’s genocide determination aims to hold perpetrators accountable and encourage a ceasefire, though it does not carry immediate legal implications. Experts emphasize the importance of this acknowledgment in addressing the atrocities and promoting serious ceasefire negotiations.