Since April 2023, Sudan has been engulfed in a devastating conflict between the Sudanese Army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group responsible for unspeakable atrocities. With thousands dead and millions displaced, the RSF’s reign of terror has escalated beyond national borders, threatening regional and international stability. The time has come for the US Congress to designate the RSF as a terrorist organization, a move critical to limiting its power and protecting Sudan’s future.
RSF: A Legacy of Violence
The RSF traces its roots to the notorious Janjaweed militia, restructured in 2013 to support the Khartoum government’s counterinsurgency campaigns in Darfur and South Kordofan. Despite being legitimized by Sudan’s parliament in 2017, the RSF has continued its campaign of violence unchecked, committing war crimes, ethnic cleansing, and mass atrocities. From destroying villages and targeting hospitals to recruiting child soldiers, the RSF’s actions have inflicted untold suffering on Sudan’s civilian population.
International reports have highlighted the RSF’s ethnic cleansing campaigns, particularly against non-Arabic-speaking tribes in Darfur. The group’s leader, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, has openly threatened Europe with weaponizing migration and has aligned himself with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, underscoring the global risk posed by his militia.
The Role of the UAE
The RSF’s power has been significantly bolstered by external support, particularly from the United Arab Emirates. Investigations reveal that the UAE has supplied the militia with millions of dollars, armored vehicles, and military equipment funneled through Chad under the guise of humanitarian aid. The UAE also hosts the RSF’s social media operations and allegedly facilitates its connections with Russia’s Wagner Group in Libya and the Central African Republic.
Abu Dhabi’s interests in supporting the RSF are clear: access to Sudan’s agricultural resources and control of strategic ports along the Red Sea. However, this reckless intervention risks empowering Russia and Wagner, destabilizing the region, and threatening global security.
US Congressional Action
In a critical move, the US House of Representatives has passed a resolution recognizing the RSF’s actions in Darfur as genocide. Independent reports detailing the militia’s ethnic cleansing campaigns have spurred calls for accountability. Several bills are now pending in Congress to address the RSF’s atrocities and its enablers.
Among these are the Stand Up for Sudan Act and the Sudan Accountability Act, both aimed at blocking US arms sales to the UAE and imposing sanctions on RSF leaders. A bipartisan group of lawmakers has also urged President Joe Biden to take decisive action, calling for immediate sanctions on the RSF for gross human rights violations.
The Case for a Terrorist Designation
Designating the RSF as a terrorist organization is more urgent than ever. Such a move would:
- Restrict the RSF’s financial flows and international movements.
- Severely impact its ability to operate and recruit.
- Signal that the US does not tolerate its actions and has no place for the RSF in Sudan’s future.
This designation would also pressure international allies, including the UAE, to reconsider their support for the RSF, disrupting the militia’s supply chains and weakening its grip on power.
A Call for Swift Action
The RSF’s atrocities have already devastated Sudan, but the international community’s inaction only emboldens its leaders. By designating the RSF as a terrorist organization, the US Congress can take a vital step in curbing its influence and preventing further suffering. This is not just a symbolic gesture; it is a necessary action to safeguard the lives of Sudanese civilians and ensure accountability for those who have perpetuated terror.
The world is watching, and Sudan cannot wait. The US must lead by example and act decisively to halt the RSF’s reign of terror.