On its way out, the Biden Administration declared January 7 that the Rapid Support Forces and allied militias had committed genocide in Sudan. Secretary of State Blinken imposed sanctions on RSF commander Mohammad Dagalo (Hemedti) for his role in systematic atrocities, particularly in West Darfur. The US also sanctioned seven RSF-owned companies in the United Arab Emirates.
Little more than a week later the US Government announced that the Sudan Armed Forces had used chemical weapons at least twice against the RSF in remote areas of the country. It expressed fears that could happen again in densely populated areas. It announced sanctions against Gen. Abdel Fatteh al-Burhan for documented atrocities by his troops, including indiscriminate bombing of civilians and use of starvation as a weapon of war. Al-Burhan replied in empty defiance, “We are ready to face any sanctions for the sake of serving this nation, and we welcome them.”
The State Department has termed the situation in Sudan “the worst humanitarian crisis in the world.”
It remains to be seen whether the Trump Administration will give attention to the catastrophe in Sudan. AFRECS and other organizations will do what we can to keep Washington’s focus on Sudan and to push for a real solution.
