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WASHINGTON (CHATNEWSTV) — The United States has officially determined that genocide has been committed in Sudan, citing atrocities carried out by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and allied militias, including mass killings, ethnic cleansing, and systematic sexual violence.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced the designation Tuesday, condemning the ongoing violence since the April 2023 conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the RSF. “The RSF and allied militias have systematically murdered men and boys—even infants—on an ethnic basis and targeted women and girls with brutal sexual violence,” Blinken said in a statement.
The conflict, described as one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, has left over 30 million people in need of aid, tens of thousands dead, and nearly 638,000 Sudanese facing famine, according to U.S. officials.
In response, the U.S. imposed sanctions on RSF leader Mohammad Hamdan Daglo, known as Hemedti, and seven RSF-owned companies operating in the United Arab Emirates, accusing them of procuring weapons for the group. Hemedti was also sanctioned under Section 7031(c) for overseeing mass rapes by RSF forces in Darfur. The designation bans him and his immediate family from entering the United States.
“Hemedti has blatantly violated international humanitarian law and ignored commitments under the Jeddah Declaration and other agreements meant to protect civilians,” Blinken said.
The U.S. emphasized its impartiality in the conflict, holding both the RSF and SAF accountable for the violence. “Both belligerents bear responsibility for the suffering in Sudan and lack the legitimacy to govern a future peaceful Sudan,” Blinken stated.
The United States also reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Sudanese civil society and advancing peace. In December, the U.S. pledged $30 million to aid Sudanese civil society groups working toward a democratic transition.
Tuesday’s sanctions were issued under Executive Order 14098, aimed at penalizing individuals destabilizing Sudan and undermining its democratic aspirations. Additional measures remain under consideration as the U.S. seeks to pressure those responsible for the atrocities.
