US Government Imposes Sanctions on Sudanese Militia Leader, Labels Actions as Genocide

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In a significant move, the Biden administration has accused Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of committing genocide against civilians and has imposed sanctions on its leader, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, also known as Hemeti. The allegations come amid a protracted civil war in Sudan, where ongoing violence has left hundreds of thousands starving and has seen the targeted killing and rape of women and children.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that the RSF and allied militias have systematically attacked civilians, committing acts of ethnic-based murder and selecting women and girls from specific groups for sexual violence. "Based on this information, I have concluded that members of the RSF and associated militias have committed genocide in Sudan," Blinken remarked.

The US sanctions target Daglo and seven companies based in the United Arab Emirates that are said to support the RSF, allegedly involved in trading gold smuggled out of Sudan, despite UAE's denial of any military assistance to the RSF.

The conflict, which flared up in April 2023 over a power struggle between Sudan’s military ruler Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his former deputy Daglo, has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and displaced millions. The United Nations has repeatedly warned of a worsening humanitarian situation, with increasing numbers of people at risk of famine as aid access dwindles.

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