U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has urged international action to halt the flow of weapons to Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), who are implicated in severe human rights violations in el-Fasher. During a G7 foreign ministers meeting in Canada, Rubio highlighted allegations of systematic atrocities committed by the RSF, including murder, rape, and sexual violence against civilians.
The Sudanese military has accused the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of supporting the RSF with arms and mercenaries, a claim the UAE has consistently denied. The RSF has been engaged in ongoing conflict with the Sudanese army since April 2023, following a power struggle that escalated into civil war.
It remains uncertain what effect Rubio’s appeal will have on the situation, especially given that a previous U.S. call for a humanitarian ceasefire was reportedly breached by the RSF, despite their agreement to it. The RSF recently gained control of el-Fasher after an 18-month siege, enabling them to assert dominance over all cities in the western Darfur region. Reports indicate that a limited number of individuals have managed to escape the city, where massacres have allegedly occurred.
Humanitarian groups, along with U.S. assessments, have suggested that non-Arab populations in Darfur are being systematically persecuted by the RSF, raising concerns of genocide. Rubio condemned the RSF’s actions, asserting that their claims of rogue elements being responsible for the violence are inaccurate.
The joint G7 statement condemned the increasing violence in Sudan, identifying the conflict as contributing to a significant humanitarian crisis, with over 150,000 fatalities and approximately 12 million people displaced. Analysis by experts, including Amnesty International, indicates a flow of weaponry into Sudan from various countries, with the UAE being implicated in supplying arms to the RSF. Despite these allegations, all parties maintain their innocence regarding the claims of arms support and involvement in the conflict.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c17p1nwy7q8o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss