Statement in Response to the U.S. Genocide Determination in Sudan
January 7, 2024 - Today, the United States determined that the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have committed genocide in Sudan and issued sanctions on the RSF’s leader, Mohammad Hamdan Daglo Mousa, commonly known as “Hemedti”, seven companies and one individual, linked to the RSF and based in the UAE.
For almost two years, the international community has watched the savagery inflicted on the people of Sudan, yet thus far, they have failed to take the necessary action to end these atrocities. Now, the hands of the world’s leaders are drenched in the blood of at least 150,000 Sudanese.
Amidst this collapse of global leadership, Sudanese youth have shown more bravery than the global community in responding to the genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity of the RSF and Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) by providing humanitarian assistance to their communities through the Emergency Response Rooms (ERRs) and other grassroots initiatives.
This announcement by the U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken reaffirms the daily reality of millions of Sudanese living through hell on Earth due to the brutality unleashed by the RSF and SAF. While this genocide determination is welcomed, earlier action could have saved thousands of lives. Famine was declared across further areas of Sudan less than two weeks ago and Sudanese civil society has consistently documented the RSF’s violations, including mass rapes and forced pregnancies of women and girls.
The genocide determination must be accompanied by stronger policies that match the severity of the worst humanitarian crisis the world has ever seen, as well as the severe protection crisis which worsens by the day. These long overdue sanctions against Hemedti must be coordinated to be truly effective and the United Nations should lead this effort and issue sanctions against senior RSF leadership. Sanctions must also be designated against external backers of the war, including the United Arab Emirates, Iran, Russia, Turkiye, and Serbia for reported violations of the Darfur arms embargo.
Tens of thousands died of starvation before famine was officially declared in Sudan and thousands more will die unless the humanitarian response is fully funded. The 2024 humanitarian appeal was only 64% funded and the 2025 plan requires $4.2 billion USD which must be pledged and dispersed urgently, and must include flexible funding. Funding must also support survivors of conflict related sexual violence and their psychosocial, medical, and legal needs.
“The UAE-backed RSF is committing genocide in Darfur, from Ardamata to El Geneina, Kutum, to El Fasher, and now they are cleansing famine-stricken Zamzam: Sudan’s largest camp for internally displaced people. The RSF is attempting to finish the genocide that began over 20 years ago – and the RSF is succeeding.”
- Shayna Lewis, PAEMA Sudan Specialist and Senior Advisor in her address to the UN Security Council, December 19, 2024
Further action is needed to tackle the prevailing impunity for atrocity crimes in Sudan. Today’s declaration is also an opportunity to seriously address decades of ethnic targeting of non-Arab populations and systemic persecution and deprivation. The international community, in partnership with Sudanese civil society and a future civilian government, must develop accountability mechanisms such as a hybrid court to prosecute perpetrators of atrocities against the people of Sudan.
As the final hours of the Biden administration draw to a close, this determination is an opportunity for the incoming administration to show true leadership in developing and implementing policies to prevent further atrocities in Sudan and support accountability. A determination of genocide is only as meaningful as the actions taken to address it. This is an opportunity to demonstrate through action that the world stands with the people of Sudan and will not abandon them to death, destruction, and the savagery of armed men – a chance to support the people of Sudan in their ongoing struggle for freedom, peace, and justice.
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For further information, contact Lauren Fortgang, at lauren@paema.ngo
PAEMA is dedicated to preventing and ending mass atrocities by amplifying the integral role of community centered solutions. We work with local communities in our areas of focus to establish and sustain relationships to drive structural and policy change.