US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced that the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan have committed genocide during the ongoing civil war. This is the second genocide in Sudan since the Darfur conflict two decades ago. The US has imposed sanctions on RSF leader Hemedti in response to systematic atrocities, emphasizing that both RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces are responsible for the violence.
On Tuesday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced that the United States has determined that Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have committed genocide during the ongoing civil war that has persisted for over a year. This declaration marks the second instance of genocide in Sudan within three decades, following the horrific events in Darfur in the early 2000s. Blinken previously noted that the RSF and allied militias had perpetrated crimes against humanity and engaged in ethnic cleansing since the conflict began in April 2023.
In his statement, Blinken condemned the RSF and its accomplices for their ongoing assaults against civilians, highlighting that they have systematically executed men, boys, and even infants based on their ethnicity. Furthermore, he detailed that women and girls from particular ethnic groups have been victimized through rape and other forms of extreme sexual violence. Additionally, these militias have targeted civilians attempting to flee violence, leading to a tragic loss of innocent lives and impeding access to crucial supplies for those remaining.
Blinken concluded that the evidence confirms that members of the RSF and their accomplices have committed genocide in Sudan. In response to this determination, the United States has instituted sanctions and visa restrictions on RSF leader Mohammad Hamdan Daglo Mousa, commonly known as Hemedti. According to Blinken, these actions are a direct response to systematic atrocities against the Sudanese population, particularly in relation to mass rapes executed by RSF personnel.
He emphasized that while these sanctions target Hemedti and the RSF, they do not imply support for the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), as both factions share culpability for the violence afflicting Sudan. Blinken reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to monitoring the situation and potentially pursuing further measures against those complicit in the conflict and the resultant suffering of the Sudanese citizens.
The civil war in Sudan, which erupted in April 2023, involves two principal factions: the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF). This turmoil has resulted in significant human rights violations, including ethnic cleansing and war crimes, primarily affecting civilian populations. The RSF had already been historically linked to atrocities during the Darfur genocide, and the current conflict has escalated the severity of violence, prompting international responses such as those announced by the United States. The systematic targeting of specific ethnic groups underscores the urgent need for accountability and intervention to protect the rights of the Sudanese people.
The United States government has officially classified the actions of Sudan’s RSF as genocide, following a thorough assessment of ongoing human rights violations in the country. The announcement by Secretary of State Antony Blinken highlights the continued atrocities committed against civilians, particularly targeting specific ethnic groups. The imposition of sanctions against the RSF leader serves as part of a broader strategy to ensure accountability and to mitigate further violence in the region. The US remains committed to assessing additional measures to address the humanitarian crisis in Sudan and to support the victims of these heinous crimes.
Original Source: www.cnn.com
