The Biden administration officially declared that Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have engaged in genocide amid the ongoing civil war, announcing sanctions against the group’s leader, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, also known as Hemedti. This significant action was articulated by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on January 7, 2025, emphasizing the RSF's role in systematic ethnic violence, including the brutal targeting of civilians.

According to Blinken, RSF and its allied militias have been responsible for the systematic murder of men, boys, and infants along with grievous sexual violence directed at women and girls based on their ethnicity. He stated that “members of the RSF and allied militias have committed genocide in Sudan,” marking a critical moment in international acknowledgment of the atrocities being committed in the region. The RSF's violent actions have contributed to a humanitarian crisis affecting millions, with reports indicating that over half of Sudan’s population is in urgent need of food aid, and famine conditions are prevalent in several areas (Source: AP News).

In the sanctions announced, Dagalo is barred from entering the United States along with his immediate family. Additionally, seven RSF-owned companies based in the United Arab Emirates have been sanctioned for their role in procuring weapons for the RSF. This move aims to undermine the RSF's efforts to project legitimacy while exacerbating internal turmoil within Sudan (Source: Le Monde; Al Jazeera).

Further detail from Blinken highlighted rampant violence against civilians, including targeted attacks on those fleeing the conflict, saying that the RSF and allied groups have continued to “murder innocent people escaping conflict.” This acknowledgment of genocide comes as the region faces one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises, following nearly two years of ongoing conflict (Source: The Hill; The Guardian).

In response to the US sanctions, the RSF dismissed the measures, claiming hypocrisy from the US administration while stressing that these actions might complicate the already dire situation in Sudan (Source: BBC). Blinken's statement reiterated that neither the RSF nor the Sudanese Armed Forces have the legitimacy to govern, as both parties bear responsibility for the ongoing violence and suffering experienced by the Sudanese populace.

These developments mark a crucial step in international efforts to confront the atrocities committed in Sudan and advocate for accountability as the humanitarian crisis deepens.