U.S. Declares Genocide by Sudan's Rapid Support Forces Amid Ongoing Civil War

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The United States has formally declared that Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have committed genocide during the country's civil war, marking a significant moment in the ongoing humanitarian crisis. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced the determination on January 7, 2025, detailing a pattern of systematic ethnic violence primarily in west Darfur, where the RSF has been accused of targeting civilians, obstructing access to vital supplies, and committing atrocities against specific ethnic groups.

Blinken's statement followed months of deliberation, concluding that the RSF and allied militias had engaged in crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing. He highlighted the disturbing acts of violence, including the systematic murder of men and boys, targeting of women and girls for sexual violence, and massacres of fleeing civilians.

In light of these findings, Blinken imposed sanctions on RSF commander Mohammad Hamdan Daglo, known as Hemedti, and announced sanctions against several entities linked to the RSF, including companies in the United Arab Emirates believed to facilitate arms procurement.

The civil war, which erupted in 2023, has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and created one of the world's worst humanitarian crises, displacing around 12 million people. The conflict primarily stems from a breakdown of an alliance between Hemedti and Sudanese army general Abdel Fattah al-Burhan.

The U.S. designation of genocide comes nearly two decades after a previous declaration about atrocities committed in Darfur by the RSF's predecessor, the Janjaweed militias. The recent genocide determination, alongside the imposition of sanctions, may pave the way for further international actions against the RSF and those supporting its operations.

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