The United States has formally declared that the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan have committed genocide, marking a grim and sobering moment in the ongoing civil war that has claimed tens of thousands of lives. This declaration is the second time in less than 30 years that genocide has been perpetrated on Sudanese soil, following the atrocities committed by the Janjaweed militias in Darfur during the early 2000s. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s announcement last week brought global attention back to the horrors unfolding in Sudan, but it also underscores a larger and deeply unsettling pattern of violence against civilians that the international community must confront.
The U.S. determination that the RSF, led by Mohammad Hamdan Daglo, known as Hemedti, committed genocide is based on a well-documented history of systematic ethnic violence in which the RSF targeted civilians on an ethnic basis, including mass killings, sexual violence, and attacks on fleeing populations. Blinken’s statement highlights the devastating impact of the RSF’s actions in Darfur, particularly in West Darfur, where up to 15,000 people were killed in 2023 alone. The attacks on non-Arab ethnic groups, including the Masalit, and the targeting of women and children for brutal sexual violence, are stark reminders of the depths of the violence being perpetrated.
The U.S. government’s decision to impose sanctions on Hemedti and RSF-linked entities, including UAE-based companies accused of supporting the RSF’s activities, is a step in the right direction. However, the broader implications of this determination raise important questions about the international community’s role in addressing genocide and war crimes. While these measures may hold individuals accountable for their actions, they do little to change the grim reality on the ground in Sudan, where millions are caught in the crossfire of a civil war with no end in sight.
The tragic irony is that this declaration of genocide is not an isolated incident, but part of a recurring pattern in Sudan’s modern history. The genocidal violence in Darfur in the early 2000s was one of the first instances in which the international community recognized the full scale of atrocities against civilians, yet the perpetrators went largely unpunished for years. The new designation of genocide against the RSF highlights how deeply entrenched the culture of impunity remains in Sudan, where both government-backed militias and rebel groups continue to wreak havoc on the civilian population without facing significant consequences.
While the United States has taken decisive action in the form of sanctions, it is clear that this is only a partial solution to a much deeper crisis. The war between the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) has caused one of the worst humanitarian disasters in the world today, displacing millions and pushing an already vulnerable population to the brink of famine. Yet, the international response remains insufficient. The RSF, which has emerged from the ashes of the Janjaweed, continues to operate with relative impunity, even as it wreaks havoc on communities. The SAF, while not implicated in the U.S. sanctions or genocide determination, has also contributed to the escalation of violence.
The U.S. sanctions on Hemedti and his allies are a necessary first step, but they cannot be the last. The international community, including the United Nations and other global powers, must come together to ensure that Sudanese civilians are protected and that the perpetrators of these atrocities are held accountable. The genocide designation should serve as a wake-up call, not only to the United States but to the broader international community, that actions must be taken not only to punish but to prevent further suffering.
Sudan’s recent history of violence and genocide serves as a chilling reminder of the resilience of hatred and the brutality of ethnic violence. The declaration of genocide against the RSF is an acknowledgment of the scale of the atrocities, but it must be followed by meaningful action. The world cannot afford to look away from Sudan, as it has so many times before. It is time for a coordinated global response that prioritizes the protection of innocent lives and holds those responsible for genocide and war crimes accountable, not just through words, but through decisive and impactful action.