Latest Developments

• RSF Murders and Rapes Non-Arab Civilians: The State Department on January 7 accused the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and its affiliated Arab militias in Sudan of committing genocide against non-Arab communities, particularly the Masalit people in western Darfur, in the ongoing two-year civil war that has garnered little international attention. “The RSF and allied militias have systematically murdered men and boys — even infants — on an ethnic basis, and deliberately targeted women and girls from certain ethnic groups for rape and other forms of brutal sexual violence,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement. “Those same militias have targeted fleeing civilians, murdering innocent people escaping conflict, and prevented remaining civilians from accessing lifesaving supplies.” The same day, the Treasury Department issued sanctions against RSF’s leader, Gen. Mohamed Hamdan, also known as Hemedti, for “his involvement in gross violations of human rights in Darfur, namely the mass rape of civilians by RSF soldiers under his control.”
• Tens of Thousands Killed, Millions Displaced: The RSF grew out of the Janjaweed paramilitaries that committed genocide in the Darfur War from 2003 to 2020. The United States estimates that up to 150,000 people have been killed in Sudan’s civil war, which began in April 2023, and UN Migration estimates that more than 11 million people have been displaced. In December, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) detected famine in five Sudanese districts and projected that another five districts would face famine within the coming months.
• Sanctions on UAE-based Companies Supporting RSF: The Treasury Department also sanctioned seven United Arab Emirates-based companies affiliated with the RSF, including Capital Tap Holding, which manages 50 companies in 10 countries that “provided the RSF with money and military equipment.” Another sanctioned company, AZ Gold, purchased gold from Sudan and transported it to Dubai. Treasury also sanctioned Sudanese businessman Abu Dharr, the owner or co-owner of five of the seven companies sanctioned. Despite the designations targeting RSF, Blinken said that the United States “does not support either side of this war” as “both belligerents bear responsibility for the violence and suffering in Sudan.”

FDD Expert Response

“Where is South Africa to file suit at the International Court of Justice? Just as for China’s genocide in Xinjiang, we are reminded that anti-American, antisemitic actors don’t actually care about human rights; they care about perpetrating a blood libel campaign.” — Richard Goldberg, Senior Advisor

“The State Department’s genocide designation and sanctions on RSF leader Gen. Mohamed Hamdan is only the start of what is needed to reach a ceasefire and work towards a stable Sudan. Moving forward, the United States must expand its efforts by targeting the RSF’s financial networks and weapons supply chains.” — Mariam Wahba, Research Analyst

“For more than a year, cities and university campuses around the world have been forced to weather mass demonstrations protesting a fake genocide in Gaza, all while a real genocide has been taking place in Sudan. The salon warriors’ obsession with Palestine is a key reason why the plight of millions of non-Arabs in Sudan has been ignored. If anything deserves a chorus of ‘shame on you,’ this is it.” — Ben Cohen, Senior Analyst and Rapid Response Director