The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on Wednesday strongly condemned the recent sanctions imposed by the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the State Department, describing the decisions as politically motivated and unjust.
The sanctions, targeting RSF Commander General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo under Executive Order 14098, accuse him and his forces of destabilizing Sudan and undermining the country’s democratic transition.
The U.S. State Department also linked the RSF to allegations of genocide, claims which the group disputes.
In a statement, the RSF argued that the U.S. administration’s actions were made without an independent investigation into the causes of Sudan’s ongoing conflict, which they say was initiated by General al-Burhan’s army (SAF) and Islamic Movement cadres.
The RSF asserted that the SAF’s leadership had repeatedly threatened to reignite war in order to derail the democratic transition following the October 2021 coup.
The RSF underlined that it was misleading to issue sanctions under a decree aimed at stabilizing Sudan’s political process while exempting the SAF, which RSF and international aid organizations have accused of obstructing peace initiatives and worsening the country’s humanitarian crisis.
The Sudanese group also rejected the accusation that it was engaged in a brutal conflict with the SAF over control of Sudan, insisting that it was the SAF’s leadership, backed by Islamist factions, that had driven the violent struggle for power.
The RSF called the accusation of genocide, vague and unfounded, noting that the U.S. failed to specify which group had been targeted or where the alleged genocide occurred. According to the group, the term “genocide” is defined under international law as a crime committed against specific national, ethnic, racial, or religious groups, which they argue was not the case in Sudan.
RSF argues that the U.S. allegations were politically driven and lacked the necessary legal and evidentiary support.
The RSF also accused the U.S. of overlooking atrocities committed by the SAF, including aerial bombardments, torture of detainees, and violations of ceasefire agreements. The RSF called the U.S. Treasury’s decision an attempt to reward those refusing to end the war, while punishing those working toward peace.
Despite the sanctions, the RSF reaffirmed its commitment to ending the war and addressing Sudan’s systemic political and economic imbalances. The group emphasized that it remains dedicated to the democratic transition and national reconciliation, calling for a comprehensive political solution to bring lasting peace and justice to Sudan.
The RSF stressed that its leader has been a key figure in the country’s political evolution, helping to remove former dictator Omar al-Bashir, thwarting the 2021 coup, and advocating for peace.
The group renewed its call for a political solution that tackles the root causes of Sudan’s crisis and ensures social justice for all communities.
