US Urges Global Action to Halt Arms Flow to Sudan's RSF Amid Darfur Genocide Accusations & Humanitarian Crisis

US Demands Global Action to Halt Arms Flow to Sudan's RSF Amid Darfur Genocide Accusations

The United States is intensifying its calls for global intervention to sever the supply of weaponry to Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking at the conclusion of a G7 foreign ministers meeting in Canada, highlighted the RSF's alleged systematic atrocities, including murder, rape, and sexual violence, particularly in el-Fasher, Darfur.

Escalating Conflict and Humanitarian Catastrophe

The devastating civil war, which ignited in April 2023 following a power struggle between the RSF and the Sudanese army, has plunged Sudan into chaos. Recent satellite imagery from el-Fasher, captured by the RSF after an 18-month siege, reportedly reveals scenes of massacres, with piles of bodies and blood-stained earth visible. Both the US and humanitarian organizations contend that non-Arab groups in the wider Darfur region are being systematically targeted, amounting to acts of genocide.

International Diplomacy and Accusations of Arms Supply

While accusing the United Arab Emirates of arming the RSF via various African nations – allegations vehemently denied by both the UAE and the RSF – Rubio refrained from public condemnation of Abu Dhabi. This restraint is noteworthy given the UAE's involvement in the 'Quad,' an alliance alongside the US, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia, collectively working towards a resolution to the conflict. Despite this, Rubio pointedly stated, "We know who the parties are that are involved [in weapons supply]... That's why they're part of the Quad along with other countries involved."

In a recent statement, the UAE expressed "alarm at the heinous attacks against civilians by RSF forces in El Fasher," yet concurrently accused the Sudanese army of "starvation tactics, indiscriminate bombardment of populated areas, and the reported use of chemical weapons." These counter-accusations have been denied by the army. A previous US-backed proposal for a humanitarian ceasefire, initially agreed to by the RSF last week, was subsequently violated, further complicating peace efforts.

The Global Reach of the Crisis

The humanitarian situation is dire. The G7 joint statement condemned the escalating violence, labeling the conflict as "the world's largest humanitarian crisis," with over 150,000 fatalities and 12 million displaced. The US fears that thousands expected to flee el-Fasher are either dead or too malnourished to move. Amnesty International and UN experts have documented the flow of weapons from various countries, including Serbia, Russia, China, Turkey, Yemen, and the UAE, often channeled through Chad into Darfur. Rubio also alluded to the involvement of "other actors," potentially including Iran, supplying the Sudanese army, though all parties deny these claims.

Calls for Accountability and Expanded Embargo

The RSF, lacking its own arms manufacturing, is heavily reliant on external support. The group, however, issued a lengthy rebuttal, denying external backing and dismissing "biased statements." They accused the army of rejecting ceasefire initiatives and criticized the US for not responding to their stated acceptance of a truce after El Fasher's capture. The international community, including the UK, is facing scrutiny over potential arms diversion, with calls for an expansion of the 2004 UN arms embargo on Darfur to cover the entire country.