US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has called for immediate international action to cut off the flow of weapons to Sudan’s paramilitary group, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). These forces have been implicated in widespread atrocities, including mass killings and severe human rights violations in el-Fasher.
Allegations against the UAE and RSF’s Atrocities
During a recent G7 foreign ministers meeting held in Canada, Rubio highlighted the RSF’s systematic commission of horrific acts such as murder, rape, and sexual violence targeting civilians. The Sudanese army has accused the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of providing the RSF with arms and mercenaries through various African nations, an assertion that the UAE has consistently denied.
Since April 2023, the RSF has been embroiled in a civil war against the Sudanese army, sparked by an internal power struggle. The RSF’s recent capture of el-Fasher, which followed an 18-month siege, has given them control over all major cities within the expansive Darfur region. Tragically, a mere fraction of the local population has managed to escape the city, where reports of massacres are prevalent, and disturbing evidence of mass graves can be detected in satellite imagery.
Rubio’s Statements and the Global Response
“They’re committing acts of sexual violence and atrocities, just horrifying atrocities, against women, children, innocent civilians of the most horrific kind. And it needs to end immediately,” Rubio stated.
Despite making strong statements regarding the RSF’s actions, Rubio refrained from overtly criticizing the UAE, despite credible investigations indicating its role as a primary arms supplier. He emphasized the need for a constructive outcome, stating, “We know who the parties are that are involved [in weapons supply].”
The Trump administration is actively pursuing an end to the conflict in coordination with the UAE, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia, collectively referred to as the “Quad.” In September, these nations proposed a humanitarian truce followed by a permanent ceasefire. However, the RSF only agreed to the truce after seizing el-Fasher, sparking further concerns about their intentions.
Rubio dismissed the RSF’s claims that rogue elements were responsible for the violence, asserting that the attacks were part of a systematic campaign. He expressed fears that thousands of individuals expected to flee el-Fasher may have perished or be too malnourished to escape.
With the ongoing conflict leading to an escalating humanitarian crisis, the G7 has condemned the violence, noting that it has resulted in over 150,000 deaths and displaced approximately 12 million people. Reports from organizations like Amnesty International indicate that various nations, including Serbia, Russia, China, and Turkey, have supplied weapons to the RSF. The UAE is particularly scrutinized for allegedly acting as a conduit for illicit arms sales, facilitating the RSF’s operations.
In light of these developments, Rubio has urged all nations currently supplying arms to cease their support. He has highlighted the multifaceted nature of the conflict, which includes potential involvement from Iran, indicating a broader geopolitical dimension to the crisis.
In the UK, government officials have faced scrutiny over allegations that British-made weapons have reached the RSF. In response to requests for a halt in arms shipments to the UAE, the Foreign Secretary affirmed the UK’s commitment to stringent arms export controls.
Despite a longstanding UN arms embargo targeting the RSF in Darfur, calls for extending these restrictions nationwide remain unaddressed, highlighting ongoing challenges in mitigating the conflict.