U.S. Declares RSF Committed Genocide in Darfur, Sanctions Leader Hemedti and UAE Firms

Jan 7, 2025, 05:24 PM

The United States has officially determined that Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and allied militias have committed genocide in the Darfur region. Citing systematic killings of civilians based on ethnicity, including men, boys, and even infants, as well as widespread atrocities such as rape and denial of humanitarian aid, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced the genocide determination. The U.S. Treasury Department, under Executive Order No. 14098, has imposed sanctions on RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, also known as Hemedti, along with another individual and seven companies linked to the RSF, including entities based in the United Arab Emirates. The RSF has been engaged in a brutal conflict with Sudan's military since fighting erupted in April 2023, leading to tens of thousands of deaths and millions displaced. The U.S. had previously accused the RSF of ethnic cleansing in 2023.