Sudan: International Community Has Taken No Steps to Stop Rapid Support Forces’ Crimes
By: Rabaa Dhfoos
Sudan’s Minister of Justice, Abdullah Darf, criticized the current peace initiatives proposed for the country, arguing that they “have failed to present a clear vision regarding the future of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and their weapons,” which he considers a fundamental requirement for achieving lasting peace.
Darf stressed that peace “must be sustainable, not a tactical process,” noting that the absence of structural solutions to the nature of the conflict and the RSF’s military formation complicates efforts to end the war, now entering its third year.
He emphasized that “what is happening in Sudan is not an internal conflict as often portrayed; this is an armed militia that attempted to seize power by force.” He added that the RSF “has committed crimes and atrocities and is receiving weapons and support in ways visible to everyone.”
The Sudanese government continues to adhere to a peace roadmap requiring RSF forces to withdraw from civilian facilities and relocate to camps outside residential areas after handing over their weapons to the Sudanese army. The RSF rejects this plan and insists on maintaining the territories under its control, while calling for broad reforms in the army and the state—reforms that include removing what it describes as “remnants of the Bashir regime” and members of the Muslim Brotherhood.
The Justice Minister further stated that the international community “has taken no steps to halt the crimes committed by the RSF militia,” asserting that Sudan “is facing a full-scale aggression supported by regional actors,” without naming them.
He said that “silence toward these crimes, and toward the states supporting this militia, has been a major factor in prolonging the suffering and violations,” urging a firmer international position against the parties fueling the conflict.
The Sudanese government accuses the United Arab Emirates of providing weapons and support to the RSF through countries including Somalia, Chad, and Uganda—allegations that Abu Dhabi denies, maintaining that it seeks to end the conflict and advance peace in Sudan.
Darf’s statements come amid escalating violence across several Sudanese states, along with recurring accusations that the RSF is committing widespread abuses against civilians, as regional and international mediations continue in an effort to halt the war and launch an inclusive political process in the country.