MADRID Jan. 7 (EUROPA PRESS) –
The United States Government has accused the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of committing “genocide” in the Sudanese region of Darfur since the conflict broke out in April 2023, for which it has sanctioned the leader of the paramilitary group in retaliation. , Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, alias ‘Hemedti’.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken has accused the RSF and its allies of systematically murdering men and boys, including babies, along ethnic lines, while singling out the paramilitary group for deliberately raping women and girls, as well as carrying carry out other types of sexual violence against them.
“These same militias have attacked fleeing civilians, killed innocent people fleeing conflict, and prevented remaining civilians from accessing vital supplies,” Blinken said in a statement.
The US Secretary of State already determined in December 2023 that both the RSF and the Sudanese Army had committed war crimes within the framework of the conflict, which has caused “the largest humanitarian catastrophe in the world.”
In retaliation, Washington has imposed sanctions against ‘Hemedti’ for his responsibility in committing “war crimes” and other “documented atrocities” in Sudan, including “ethnically motivated killings and sexual violence as a weapon of war.”
“As commander general of the RSF, Hemedti has command responsibility for the abhorrent and illegal actions committed by his forces,” the Treasury Department said in a statement in which it also highlighted that the leader of the paramilitary group has violated the Declaration of Jeddah.
This agreement, as Washington recalled, was signed by the RSF in May 2023 and includes a series of commitments to allow the passage of humanitarian aid into the country, prevent the suffering of civilians and prevent war crimes such as sexual violence.
The sanctions are part of the United States’ efforts to “promote accountability” for the conflict, although Washington has made it clear that this does not constitute “support” for the Sudanese Army, since it “does not support any of the sides”.
SANCTIONS ON SEVEN COMPANIES AND ONE INDIVIDUAL
In parallel, the United States has imposed sanctions against seven companies based in the United Arab Emirates and one individual – Abu Dharr, owner of Capital Tap Holding – for acquiring weapons and providing money to the Sudanese paramilitary group.
“The Treasury Department is committed to using every tool available to hold accountable those who are responsible for violating the human rights of the Sudanese people,” Treasury Undersecretary Wally Adeyemo said in a statement.
Sudan is mired in civil war following increased tensions over the integration of the RSF into the Armed Forces, a key part of an agreement signed in December 2022 to form a new civilian government and reactivate the transition opened after the 2019 overthrow of Omar Hasan al Bashir.
Since then, an estimated 11.5 million people have been internally displaced due to the conflict, according to UN data. Another 3.2 million have had to leave the African country.
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