This week, the United States accused Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia of committing genocide amidst the nation’s brutal civil conflict.

This marks the second declaration of genocide in Sudan within two decades, a country plagued by thousands of deaths and a devastating humanitarian crisis.

How did Sudan reach this point?
For over 20 months, two of Sudan’s most powerful generals—Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, leader of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), and Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, commander of the paramilitary RSF—have been locked in a vicious power struggle. The nation is still reeling from atrocities committed in the early 2000s, including mass killings and the displacement of millions.

Once allies, the two generals orchestrated the ousting of President Omar al-Bashir in 2019 and later contributed to a 2021 coup, dismantling the transitional government. Today, Sudan is consumed by conflict, with the RSF controlling significant portions of the country, including Darfur and parts of the capital, Khartoum.

Since April 2023, over 11 million people have been displaced, and millions more have fled the country, according to the United Nations. Hunger and famine conditions now affect several areas.

Who is responsible?
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken accused Hemedti’s RSF and allied Arab militias of committing “direct attacks against civilians,” including systematic ethnic killings, the rape of women and girls, and the targeting of fleeing civilians. Based on these findings, Blinken declared that genocide had been committed.

The RSF denied the accusations, calling the US decision “unjust” and claiming it lacked evidence of specific targets or locations. The RSF, rooted in the Janjaweed militias responsible for the Darfur genocide in the early 2000s, has faced long-standing allegations of ethnic-driven violence.

Recent ethnically motivated killings have been particularly severe in Darfur, mirroring past atrocities. In 2023, hundreds of non-Arab civilians were massacred in West Darfur. On Tuesday, the US imposed sanctions on Hemedti and entities linked to the RSF for their roles in systematic atrocities and weapons procurement.

Are both factions guilty of abuses?
The United Nations has accused both the SAF and the RSF of war crimes. Blinken emphasized that the US does not support either side, holding both factions accountable for the ongoing violence and suffering.

Sudanese activist Hala Al-Karib, from the Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa, has documented cases of sexual violence allegedly committed by both the SAF and RSF. In Darfur, she noted, sexual violence has been used as a tool of terror, often with ethnic motivations.

Al-Karib highlighted incidents involving young girls who took their lives after gang-rape by RSF fighters, emphasizing the militia’s culture of impunity. She welcomed the US sanctions, calling for greater accountability to deter further atrocities.

Meanwhile, civilians and aid agencies continue to endure frequent shelling and attacks from both factions, exacerbating the already dire humanitarian crisis.