US Urges Foreign Powers to Halt Military & Financial Aid to Ukraine War Parties
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US Sanctions Network Supporting Rapid support Forces in Sudan, cites Colombian fighters and Mass Killings
Table of Contents
Overview of US Actions
On May 9, 2024, the US State department announced sanctions against individuals and entities accused of fueling the conflict in Sudan, specifically supporting the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The sanctions target a transnational network allegedly recruiting and training former Colombian military personnel – including child soldiers – to fight alongside the RSF.The US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) implemented the sanctions, designating four individuals and four entities [Treasury Department Press Release](https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy2444).
The State Department explicitly linked the RSF to mass killings of civilians in El Fasher, North Darfur, alleging these atrocities were carried out with the assistance of Colombian fighters brought in to bolster the RSF’s military operations. The US considers this a “dangerous violation of international law” requiring swift international intervention.
Details of the Sanctions
The sanctions aim to disrupt the RSF’s access to external support, especially the recruitment of Colombian mercenaries through private military companies.According to the State department, this will substantially limit the RSF’s ability to utilize these fighters, some of whom have already participated in combat within Sudan. The sanctioned entities and individuals are largely comprised of Colombian citizens and companies.
The US Treasury identified the network as facilitating the deployment of former Colombian military personnel to Sudan, providing them with training and logistical support. The sanctions block any US property and interests in property of the designated individuals and entities, and prohibit US persons from engaging in transactions with them [OFAC Details](https://ofac.treasury.gov/sanctions-programs/sudan/).
El Fasher and Alleged atrocities
The city of El Fasher has become a focal point of the conflict in Sudan, with the RSF reportedly taking control with the support of Colombian fighters. The US State department alleges that the RSF, aided by these mercenaries, has committed mass killings targeting civilians in the region.The scale of these alleged atrocities prompted the call for rapid international intervention.
North Darfur, where El Fasher is located, has experienced a surge in violence, exacerbating an already dire humanitarian crisis. The conflict has displaced hundreds of thousands of people and created severe food insecurity [UNHCR Sudan](https://www.unhcr.org/sudan-emergency.html).
US Calls for De-escalation
beyond the sanctions, the US government is urging all external actors to cease providing military and financial support to both warring parties in Sudan – the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF). washington emphasizes the need for a peaceful resolution to the conflict and the protection of civilians.
The US has previously engaged in diplomatic efforts to mediate a ceasefire between the RSF and the SAF, but these efforts have so far yielded limited results.The ongoing conflict threatens to destabilize the wider region and further exacerbate the humanitarian crisis in Sudan.
Background: The Sudan Conflict
The conflict in Sudan erupted on April 15, 2023, between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), commanded by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti). The conflict stems from a power struggle between the two generals, who were previously allies in a 2021 coup that ousted the civilian government [Council on Foreign Relations Backgrounder](https://www.cfr.org/global-conflict-tracker/conflict/sudan).
The RSF originated as a Janjaweed militia accused of atrocities in Darfur in the early 2000s. the conflict has drawn in various regional actors and has been marked by widespread violence, including attacks on civilians, looting, and sexual violence.