US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has called for international action to cut off the supply of weapons to Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), who are accused of mass killings and atrocities in the country.
Rubio said at a G7 foreign ministers meeting that the RSF had committed systematic atrocities, including murder, rape, and sexual violence against civilians. He stated that these acts needed to end immediately.
The RSF has been fighting the Sudanese army since April 2023, when a power struggle between their leaders erupted into all-out civil war.
Sudan's army accuses the United Arab Emirates of propping up the RSF with weapons and mercenaries sent via African nations. The UAE and the RSF have repeatedly denied these allegations.
The US-backed proposal for a humanitarian ceasefire in Sudan has already been violated by the RSF, even though they agreed to it last week.
A previous UN arms embargo on the RSF's stronghold of Darfur was extended in 2004 but not to the rest of the country. The conflict between the army and the RSF has triggered "the world's largest humanitarian crisis" according to a joint G7 statement.
More than 150,000 people have been killed in the conflict, with about 12 million having no choice but to flee their homes.
The smuggling route used by the UAE to supply the RSF is often via Chad, and through Darfur, according to a leaked report by UN experts.
Rubio stated that assistance to the RSF "isn't just coming from some country that's paying for it - it's also coming from countries that are allowing their territory to be used to ship it and transport it".
The UAE in particular is accused of providing arms and support to the RSF, who in turn are accused of using the UAE as a marketplace for illicit gold sales.
In response to Rubio's comments, the UAE expressed alarm at the heinous attacks against civilians by RSF forces in El Fasher. The country also accused the Sudanese army of "starvation tactics, indiscriminate bombardment of populated areas, and the reported use of chemical weapons".
The US has been working with the UAE, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia to end the war in Sudan.
Rubio's comments have drawn attention from human rights groups, who say that non-Arab groups in Darfur are being systematically targeted by the RSF in what amounts to genocide.
Rubio said at a G7 foreign ministers meeting that the RSF had committed systematic atrocities, including murder, rape, and sexual violence against civilians. He stated that these acts needed to end immediately.
The RSF has been fighting the Sudanese army since April 2023, when a power struggle between their leaders erupted into all-out civil war.
Sudan's army accuses the United Arab Emirates of propping up the RSF with weapons and mercenaries sent via African nations. The UAE and the RSF have repeatedly denied these allegations.
The US-backed proposal for a humanitarian ceasefire in Sudan has already been violated by the RSF, even though they agreed to it last week.
A previous UN arms embargo on the RSF's stronghold of Darfur was extended in 2004 but not to the rest of the country. The conflict between the army and the RSF has triggered "the world's largest humanitarian crisis" according to a joint G7 statement.
More than 150,000 people have been killed in the conflict, with about 12 million having no choice but to flee their homes.
The smuggling route used by the UAE to supply the RSF is often via Chad, and through Darfur, according to a leaked report by UN experts.
Rubio stated that assistance to the RSF "isn't just coming from some country that's paying for it - it's also coming from countries that are allowing their territory to be used to ship it and transport it".
The UAE in particular is accused of providing arms and support to the RSF, who in turn are accused of using the UAE as a marketplace for illicit gold sales.
In response to Rubio's comments, the UAE expressed alarm at the heinous attacks against civilians by RSF forces in El Fasher. The country also accused the Sudanese army of "starvation tactics, indiscriminate bombardment of populated areas, and the reported use of chemical weapons".
The US has been working with the UAE, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia to end the war in Sudan.
Rubio's comments have drawn attention from human rights groups, who say that non-Arab groups in Darfur are being systematically targeted by the RSF in what amounts to genocide.
150k+ ppl killed 
, 12 mil displaced 
️! Can't stress enough how dire this situation is 
. RSF's alleged involvement with UAE in smuggling & illicit gold sales? 
Red flags everywhere 
. Human rights groups pointing out genocide vibes 
. I mean, can we agree that US Secretary of State's proposal for a humanitarian ceasefire isn't a bad start? 
70% of the UN's emergency response budget goes towards Sudan & South Sudan in 2022 alone 
. It's alarming how much aid those regions receive vs. other parts of Africa... 75% of Darfur's population lives without access to basic necessities like clean water or healthcare 
.
And let's not forget the UAE's response, saying they're "alarmed" by the attacks... 
. It's all about optics & damage control, if you ask me 
.
but is that enough? 
80% of the world's humanitarian response funding goes towards Africa 
. The fact that the US-backed proposal for a ceasefire has already been violated by the RSF highlights the need for more effective measures to be put in place. It's also concerning that the UAE is accused of providing arms and support to the RSF, who are then accused of using it for illicit activities 
. It's like they're playing with people's lives and it's just not right. I mean, 150k+ deaths is insane 
. And the UAE trying to play both sides, providing arms to RSF while accusing others of wrongdoings? Not cool 
.
. But it's also time for them to put pressure on the UAE to stop backing the RSF 
. We need to take action and support these communities 
.
The situation in Sudan is getting more intense by the day 
. I mean, 150,000+ people killed and 12 million displaced? That's just heartbreaking 
. And it seems like a lot of countries are involved in this conflict, from the UAE to Egypt and Saudi Arabia... it's hard to keep track of who's supporting whom 
. I hope Rubio's comments can bring about some change soon 
. It's not like they're directly accused of supplying arms and mercenaries to the RSF, but still... it raises some red flags about their motives.
. International action is needed to address these systematic atrocities and hold those responsible accountable. The fact that human rights groups are saying this amounts to genocide is terrifying - we can't just stand by and watch this happen 
. We need to see some concrete actions taken soon! 