United States sanctions Sudan’s RSF Chief, citing genocide allegations

The United States has announced sanctions against the leader of Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF), accusing the paramilitary group of committing genocide and perpetrating brutal atrocities. On Tuesday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo—commonly known as Hemedti—will face punitive measures for orchestrating “systematic” violence against civilians during the country’s protracted 20-month conflict.

Blinken alleged that RSF-aligned militias have killed men, boys, and even infants, and have targeted women with sexual violence based on ethnicity. He further accused these armed factions of ambushing civilians fleeing the conflict, thereby worsening what many experts label one of the world’s most severe humanitarian disasters. In response, RSF representatives denounced the United States for displaying “double standards,” asserting that the sanctions reflect Washington’s inability to resolve Sudan’s crisis comprehensively.

The conflict between the RSF and Sudan’s military has raged since April 2023, resulting in staggering casualty figures and widespread hunger. According to diplomatic sources, up to 150,000 people may have been killed, and famine conditions have taken hold in several regions. Nearly half of Sudan’s population—an estimated 24.6 million people—requires urgent food assistance.

Blinken emphasized that both the RSF and the Sudanese military bear responsibility for the ongoing devastation, which has displaced countless families and disrupted essential services. Under the newly announced measures, Hemedti and his immediate family are barred from entering the United States, and any assets they hold there will be frozen. Seven RSF-linked companies based in the United Arab Emirates and another individual face similar sanctions for supplying weapons to the paramilitary group.