Tue Jan 07 17:52:03 UTC 2025: **US Accuses Sudan’s RSF of Genocide, Imposes Sanctions**

WASHINGTON – The United States has formally accused Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and allied militias of committing genocide, announcing sanctions against RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated on Tuesday that the RSF has engaged in targeted attacks against civilians, systematically murdering men and boys based on their ethnicity and using rape and sexual violence against women and girls. The atrocities, he said, constitute genocide.

The announcement comes amidst a brutal 18-month war between the RSF and the Sudanese military, which has killed tens of thousands and displaced over 11 million. The conflict has also exacerbated existing humanitarian crises, with thousands succumbing to conflict-related illness and starvation, according to the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Blinken highlighted the RSF’s continued attacks on civilians, including the targeting of those fleeing conflict and the obstruction of aid delivery.

In addition to the travel ban and asset freeze imposed on Dagalo, the US Treasury Department also sanctioned seven RSF-owned companies based in the UAE. This action follows accusations that the UAE is supplying arms to the RSF, allegations the UAE denies. The UN has called for an end to all arms supplies to both the RSF and the Sudanese army, citing their roles in atrocities. The humanitarian situation in Sudan remains dire, with the World Health Organization reporting widespread malnutrition, cholera outbreaks, and limited access to healthcare.

The US declaration follows accusations of its own complicity in human rights abuses, including genocide allegations related to the Israeli military campaign in Gaza, which has resulted in the deaths of thousands of Palestinians. The US government has denied these allegations.

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