Lawmakers are calling for the United States to impose sanctions on General Mohamed Hamdan ‘Hemedti’ Dagalo and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) for their human rights abuses. A group of senators has written to President Joe Biden, urging him to recognize the RSF as violators of human rights under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act. The letter, dated Friday, points to the RSF’s involvement in gross violations of human rights, including crimes against human rights defenders and those exposing government corruption.
The senators have given Biden 120 days to take action on their request. They also refer to a statement from US Secretary of State Antony Blinken accusing the RSF of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and ethnic cleansing since the conflict began. The lawmakers urge Biden to investigate the RSF’s financial activities, such as gold smuggling and their connections to the Russian Federation and Wagner Group, for potential sanctions.
The US Department of the Treasury has already imposed penalties, including sanctions on Hemedti’s brother and visa restrictions on RSF General Abdul Rahman Juma, for the group’s violent activities against human rights defenders. The letter was sent by senators Ben Cardin and Jim Risch, along with representatives Michael McCaul and Gregory Meeks, who all serve on key foreign affairs committees.
The RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) have been accused of attacking civilians and obstructing humanitarian aid access, leading to a major humanitarian crisis in Sudan. Ceasefire agreements have repeatedly failed, and international efforts are ongoing to achieve lasting peace. Nearly eight million people are displaced and facing shortages of essential resources in the country.