Sudan’s history has been marked by repeated cycles of violence and political strife, with the Darfur region becoming tragically famous for human rights abuses and conflict in the early 2000s. Known for the widespread atrocities committed by the Janjaweed militias, Darfur saw the brutal killing of up to 300,000 people, while millions were forced from their homes.
The Roots of Conflict in Sudan
Many believed the conflict had settled, but a new wave of violence has surged, marked by deadly attacks on ethnic groups and widespread suffering. Now, the United Nations has imposed strict sanctions on two generals of Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a powerful paramilitary group at the heart of the current crisis.
The violence in Sudan reignited in April 2023, when a longstanding tension between the country’s military and the RSF erupted. This fight for power started in the capital city, Khartoum, and rapidly spread across the nation, hitting Darfur hard once again. The United Nations estimates that more than 14,000 lives have been lost in this new conflict, with another 33,000 people injured. With millions displaced and the threat of famine looming, the humanitarian situation is dire. The conflict has led to horrific reports of ethnically targeted violence, torture, rape, and destruction of entire neighborhoods in Darfur, with the RSF and its allies blamed for a campaign of “ethnic cleansing.”
Sanctions Against RSF Generals
In a significant move, the United Nations Security Council announced sanctions on two prominent RSF generals: Maj. Gen. Osman Mohamed Hamid Mohamed, head of the RSF’s operations department, and Maj. Gen. Abdel Rahman Juma Barkalla, the RSF commander in West Darfur. These two leaders are accused of playing critical roles in the violent campaign against the Sudanese military and of being responsible for extensive human rights abuses. According to Britain’s UN Mission, both generals were sanctioned for “threatening the peace, security, and stability of Sudan,” and for acts of violence and abuses that have brought further suffering to Sudan’s civilians.
Darfur’s Wounds Reopened : Sudan’s Brutal Cycle of Violence
The sanctions enforced by the UN will require all countries to freeze any assets held by these two generals and to enforce a travel ban against them. Earlier in the year, the United States Treasury also imposed sanctions on both men, restricting their financial transactions and freezing assets held in the U.S. These actions aim to weaken their power, although it is uncertain how much of an impact they will have on the overall conflict in Sudan.
Human Rights Watch published a report in May 2023, documenting the extent of the violence and atrocities committed by the RSF and its affiliated militias in Darfur. This report, entitled “The Massalit Will Not Come Home: Ethnic Cleansing and Crimes Against Humanity in El Geneina, West Darfur, Sudan”, outlines the attacks specifically targeting ethnic groups like the Masalit. The RSF’s campaign appears designed to drive out or eliminate these communities, with captured individuals facing torture, women and girls experiencing sexual violence, and entire neighborhoods looted and destroyed. The report argues that the actions of the RSF amount to a clear case of ethnic cleansing, further underscoring the urgent need for international intervention.
The Rapid Support Forces and Its Impact on Darfur
The RSF’s roots trace back to the Janjaweed, a militia group infamous for its role in the genocide and war crimes committed in Darfur in the early 2000s. With the backing of Sudan’s former government, the Janjaweed carried out massacres targeting non-Arab groups in Darfur, resulting in an estimated 300,000 deaths and over two million people displaced. The RSF was created as a formalized arm of the Janjaweed and has since grown into one of Sudan’s most powerful military forces. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has long watched the RSF’s activities, with Prosecutor Karim Khan recently expressing concerns over possible war crimes, crimes against humanity, and even genocide occurring in Darfur today.
U.S. Sanctions Mirghani Idris Suleiman, Weapons Chief in Sudan’s Civil War
The RSF has seized control of four out of five state capitals in Darfur, consolidating its power in the region. However, the northern city of El Fasher remains under government control, and the RSF has intensified its campaign to capture it. As the RSF’s influence spreads, reports of violence against ethnic Masalit and other non-Arab groups in West Darfur have increased. El Geneina, the capital of West Darfur, has been particularly affected, with accounts of brutality against the local population. Witnesses and survivors tell of horrific scenes, from widespread looting and property destruction to acts of physical and sexual violence aimed at dehumanizing and displacing these communities.
The ongoing conflict has had a severe impact on the basic human needs of the Sudanese people. The United Nations reports that Sudan is on the brink of famine, with millions of citizens lacking access to food, shelter, and medical care. Many families have been forced to flee their homes, and entire communities have been destroyed in the violence. The UN and various humanitarian organizations are working to provide support, but the situation remains challenging as the conflict zones are difficult to reach, and those most affected often have little access to international assistance.
The RSF’s actions have drawn widespread condemnation, with international human rights groups urging the global community to take steps to protect vulnerable populations and hold those responsible accountable. The situation in Darfur reflects a grim cycle of violence that has plagued the region for years, and the addition of RSF generals to the UN’s sanctions list represents a significant step in addressing the ongoing atrocities. However, much remains uncertain, as Sudan continues to grapple with deep-seated divisions and the struggle for power rages on, bringing suffering to its people and further destabilizing the region.
The imposition of sanctions highlights a clear message from the international community against the unchecked violence in Sudan. Nonetheless, the path to peace in Sudan remains long and fraught with challenges, as history seems to be repeating itself in Darfur, with the victims caught once again in a tragic cycle of violence.
