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CWA # 1597, 19 February 2025
NIAS Africa Studies
The Civil War in Sudan: The Belated US Genocide Call and Sanctions

  Anu Maria Joseph

On 7 January, the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, in a press release, sanctioned the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) leader, Mohammad Hamdan Daglo, for human rights atrocities against the Sudanese people. The Department of State additionally sanctioned seven RSF-owned companies in the UAE. Besides, under Section 7031(c), Dagalo and his immediate family have been restricted entry to the US. Blinken stated: "Members of the RSF and allied militias have committed genocide in Sudan."

The press release accuses Dagalo of neglecting 2023, "the Jeddah Declaration of Commitment to Protect the Civilians of Sudan," and the 2024 Code of Conduct by the Advancing Lifesaving and Peace in Sudan initiative. The crimes that the RSF committed, according to the press release, were war crimes, including sexual violence, murdering men, boys and infants on an 

ethnic basis by aligning with ethnic militias, targeted sexual attacks on women and girls from certain ethnic groups, and preventing access to aid. 

Commenting on the US efforts to promote accountability for all warring parties, Blinken added:  "The United States does not support either side of this war, and these actions against Hemedti and the RSF do not signify support or favour for the SAF.  Both belligerents bear responsibility for the violence and suffering in Sudan and lack the legitimacy to govern a future peaceful Sudan." 

On the same day, the RSF rejected the comments stating: "America previously punished the great African freedom fighter Nelson Mandela, which was wrong. Today, it is rewarding those who started the war by punishing (RSF leader) General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, which is also wrong."

This is not the first time the genocide warning in Sudan is being discussed. In September 2023, during the early stages of the war, the UN Special Advisor on the Prevention of Genocide, Alice Wairimu Nderitu, raised concerns over the risk of genocide amidst continuing violence and targeted human rights atrocities in certain regions and against identities, especially Darfur states. Later in May 2024, the UN Special Advisor on Prevention of Genocide, Margaret Besheer, issued a second warning on the growing risk of genocide in the country. Although the term "genocide" was not used, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and several UN agencies had previously accused the RSF of committing targeted killings, war crimes and ethnic cleansing. 

During 2003-2008, in Darfur, more than 300,000 people were killed by the Sudanese government forces and Omar al Bashir's special forces known as Janjaweed, which later became the RSF. They targeted Fur, Zaghawa, Masalit and other non-Arab ethnic communities; the US labelled it as a genocide. Although the civil war, which began in 2023, was initially a military rivalry between the RSF and the SAF, it escalated into an ethnic conflict when the RSF and the SAF aligned with Arab and non-Arab militias. While the war was concentrated in the capital Khartoum, following the involvement of ethnic militias, the violence spread to the states of Darfur, Blue Nile and Kordofan. The RSF and its allied militias are once again carrying out human rights atrocities, and targeted killings of Fur, Zaghawa, Masalit and other non-Arab communities, concentrated in Darfur (especially El Geneina region in West Darfur), Blue Nile and Kordofan states. 

Regional and international efforts and their ineffectiveness 
There have been multiple regional and international efforts (for example: talks led by the UK and Sierra Leon in November 2024, the US and Saudi Arabia in May 2023, and the African Union and Egypt in May 2023). However, they failed without any significant outcomes. Regional efforts have been criticized for their bias towards either of the warring parties. The international mediators fail to bring the warring parties to the bargaining table and secure their commitment and compliance. Currently, the actors are not limited to the SAF and the RSF. It includes several ethnic militias and historical ethnic issues. However, global peace efforts are limited to these two actors and short term objectives. The conflict has become more complex for any global actors to mediate. The Middle East and Ukraine receive more global attention; Sudan is of the least geopolitical interest to the world. The mediators have shown too little interest in considering the complexities of the conflict. Rather, the failed efforts and the conflict's perpetuity are bringing disinterest among the mediators.

The major reason behind the failed efforts is the conflict actors and their non-compliance to external efforts. The warring parties are adamant about gaining a territorial upper hand and claim the country's legitimate leadership. During the latest peace talks in Geneva, which both parties refused to attend, the SAF leader said its forces would "fight for 100 years" rather than sit with RSF for talks.  Besides, the UAE and Iran are allegedly supporting the RSF and the SAF with weapon supply. The abundant flow of weapons, despite the UN arms embargo, has given the warring parties a strong incentive to disregard the peace talks efforts and continue the violence. Additionally, the international ignorance and too little effort to end the war in Sudan did not alter the warring sides' strong incentives to take control of the state.

What does it mean?
First, the repeat of history in Sudan. The US realization of genocide in Sudan is too late and underlines the global responses to the war have been. This global neglect has made the war in Sudan worse, increasing the extent of humanitarian disaster in Sudan, making Darfur once again the victim of genocide. It was too late when the international community acknowledged the genocide in Darfur in 2004. The history is repeating.

Second the effectiveness of global norms and institutions. Neither the international community has given enough attention to the ongoing genocide, nor has any efforts been made to prevent or stop it. It is unclear what has been the purpose of the UN's Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crimes of Genocide when it comes to many conflicts in African countries.  

Third, better efforts in mediation. The conflicts in Sudan require a collective international and regional effort. The mediators have failed to understand the actors and root causes of the conflict beyond the RSF and the SAF. Sudan needs an inclusive peace mediation including all actors, ethnic groups, civil society groups, women and grassroots representatives. Mediators need to change the method of understanding the conflict and reaching out to its actors.

Parts of this commentary were originally published as part of NIAS-IPRI Conflict Weekly.

About the author
Anu Maria Joseph is a Project Associate at NIAS.
 

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