Editorial: International community shouldn’t remain passive

Since April 2023, Sudan has become a seemingly endless war zone, with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), transforming into an outlaw militia committing widespread crimes, including murder, looting, and forced displacement. El Fasher is under their direct control, and the militia previously controlled parts of Khartoum, Gezira, and North and South Kordofan states before these areas were either fully or partially reclaimed.

Protecting civilians in these areas under the militia’s control is an illusion, and holding those responsible for violations accountable is virtually impossible.

Political forces aligned with the militia, whether by turning a blind eye to its actions or attempting to exploit it politically, are consolidating its power, revealing the fragility of the Sudanese regime and the lack of balance between civilian and military authority.

State institutions, which are supposed to protect citizens, are struggling to enforce the law equally, while vast areas are becoming something of an “unofficial war zone” where crimes continue unchecked.

The crisis is exacerbated by clear external support, particularly from the UAE, which provides logistical and financial support to the militia, thus perpetuating violations and prolonging human suffering.

The international community cannot remain passive. Strict restrictions must be imposed on any external support for militias, and all those who contribute to their continued unchecked power must be held accountable.

The priority now is to impose targeted international sanctions on the leaders of the Rapid Support Forces militia, and to designate the militia as one of the world’s most dangerous terrorist groups, similar to ISIS, al-Qaeda, given the direct threat it poses to civilians and its continued unchecked violations.

The transitional government must act immediately: restore the rule of law, assert control over areas held by militias, strengthen mechanisms for the protection of civilians, and support independent investigations, including cooperation with the International Criminal Court, to ensure that those responsible for crimes since April 2023 are held accountable and that impunity is fully eradicated.

Sudan today is not merely a local conflict; it is a global test of the international community’s commitment to international humanitarian law and the protection of civilians from armed terrorism within a sovereign state. Failure to act will send a clear message: impunity is possible, external support continues, and innocent civilians pay the price. Only action now can prevent further massacres and restore hope to thousands of trapped civilians.