What You Need to Know
The U.S. has imposed sanctions on Sudanese Rapid Support Forces leaders for their involvement in genocide and human rights violations. Senior advisor to the U.S. President, Massad Boulos, urged an immediate ceasefire to facilitate humanitarian aid access. The situation in Sudan remains dire, with ongoing violence and significant civilian casualties.
Africa-Press. The senior advisor to the U.S. President for African and Arab affairs, Massad Boulos, stated that Washington has imposed sanctions on three senior leaders of the Rapid Support Forces for their involvement in genocide, ethnic killings, torture, starvation, and sexual violence in Sudan.
He added in a tweet on the platform “X” that Washington has also sanctioned another leader suspected of human rights violations, emphasizing that the U.S. “will not tolerate such atrocities or serious violations under any circumstances.”
Boulos called on the Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese army to cease fire immediately and unconditionally to allow humanitarian aid to reach civilians and to create space for dialogue.
The U.S. Treasury Department accused the Rapid Support Forces yesterday of committing “ethnic killings, torture, starvation, and sexual violence.”
Among those targeted by the Treasury was a general in the Rapid Support Forces, who the department stated filmed himself killing unarmed civilians, in addition to a brigade and a field commander in the Rapid Support Forces.
Humanitarian Atrocities
This comes as the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Sudan condemned yesterday the occurrence of “genocide” in the Sudanese city of El Fasher, which has witnessed numerous atrocities since falling into the hands of the Rapid Support Forces last October.
In a related context, the head of the Sudanese Sovereignty Council, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, conditioned the withdrawal of the Rapid Support Forces from occupied areas before a ceasefire. This statement was made during a speech delivered Thursday evening in Omdurman (west of Khartoum).
Last Wednesday, 24 European and Western countries expressed their concern over the continued killing of civilians, destruction of infrastructure, and targeting of humanitarian missions in Sudan, urging the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces to cease fighting.
They noted in a joint statement that aerial attacks and drone strikes on displaced persons, health facilities, and food convoys have resulted in a significant number of civilian casualties and hindered the delivery of humanitarian aid.
The statement confirmed that the states of Darfur (west) and Kordofan (southwest) are experiencing the worst humanitarian crisis in the world, pointing to famine and sexual violence, in addition to the displacement of 100,000 people in Kordofan alone in recent months.
Fierce battles have been ongoing between the army and the Rapid Support Forces since April 2023, resulting in tens of thousands of deaths and displacing over 11 million people in what the United Nations describes as the worst humanitarian crisis in the world.
The conflict in Sudan has escalated since April 2023, leading to a severe humanitarian crisis. The Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese army have been engaged in intense battles, resulting in tens of thousands of deaths and displacing over 11 million people. International concern has grown as reports of ethnic violence and human rights abuses emerge, prompting calls for immediate action to protect civilians and restore peace.
The U.S. has taken a firm stance by imposing sanctions on key leaders involved in these atrocities. The situation in Darfur and Kordofan is particularly alarming, with reports of famine and sexual violence.
