Sudan has welcomed the United States’ decision to impose sanctions on Mohammad Hamdan Daglo, also known as Hemedti, the leader of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group, announced on Wednesday.
A statement from Sudan’s Foreign Ministry accused Daglo of orchestrating “systematic atrocities” through the RSF against Sudanese citizens. The ministry urged nations globally to follow the U.S. example by sanctioning the paramilitary organization, its leadership, and its supporters.
On Tuesday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken declared that members of the RSF and their allied militias have committed acts of genocide in Sudan. “We are today sanctioning RSF leader Mohammad Hamdan Daglo Mousa, known as Hemedti, for his role in systematic atrocities committed against the Sudanese people,” Blinken stated.
The sanctions extend to Hemedti, seven companies, and one individual associated with the RSF. Since April 2023, Sudan has been engulfed in fierce fighting between the national army and the RSF, resulting in over 20,000 deaths and displacing more than 14 million people, according to estimates from the United Nations and local authorities.