Darfur Union Calls for Expanded Sanctions on RSF and UAE, Criticises UK Government's Approach to Su

07:58 PM April, 18 2024

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Darfur Union Calls for Expanded Sanctions on RSF and UAE, Criticises UK Government's Approach to Sudan Crisis



**Call for Comprehensive Sanctions**: The Darfur Union demands extended sanctions beyond individual RSF members to include their financial networks and international backers like the UAE, implicated in weaponising and funding the RSF and embezzling Sudanese resources.

**Demand for Accountability**: Urges the UK and other nations to adopt a more robust and holistic approach in imposing sanctions, ensuring all parties complicit in the Sudan crisis, including governments like the UAE, are held responsible for their actions.

**Highlighting RSF Atrocities**: Draws attention to RSF's brutal campaigns in North Darfur, especially around al-Fasher, with attacks resulting in ethnic-based killings, village destruction, and potential for a humanitarian catastrophe. Also similar attacks of burning villiages in West Darfur including Misterei. Also threats of ethic cleansing in Kas, South Darfur.

**Criticising UK Diplomatic Conduct**: The Union condemns secretive talks between the UK FCDO and RSF, questioning the UK's integrity and its commitment to supporting Sudanese civilians, given the UK's historical role in training Sudanese forces during the Bashir regime.

**Humanitarian Crisis Alarm**: Emphasises the immediate need for improved humanitarian access in Darfur, citing OCHA's reports on the obstacles to delivering aid, including RSF and Janjaweed militia interference that endangers lives.

**Advocacy for Inclusive Support**: Critiques the international community's failure at the Paris conference to engage all Sudanese regions and actors, calling for tangible support and an end to selective policies that exacerbate Sudan's crises, including pushing for reactivation of UN Charter Chapter VII to protect civilians.

**Emphasis on Accountability for Lasting Peace**: The Darfur Union underscores that true cessation of war in Sudan can only be achieved through accountability and justice, a crucial avenue often overlooked in favor of partial solutions that historically perpetuate cycles of war crimes, ultimately affecting the country's population.

The Darfur Union in the UK has released a statement urging for stronger sanctions against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan and their sources of funding and investments abroad. While acknowledging the importance of the sanctions imposed by Canada (ref. 1) and other countries, the Darfur Union believes that it is not enough to solely target individuals associated with RSF. It is crucial to extend sanctions to RSF's financial networks and international backers, such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE), who have been implicated in weaponising RSF (ref. 2) and involvement in the embezzlement of Sudanese gold by the RSF (ref. 3).

The Darfur Union calls for increased pressure on countries like the UAE and advocates for sanctions to be imposed on them for supporting the RSF and contributing to the atrocities in Sudan (ref. 4). The Union also highlights the recent sanctions issued by the UK government in response to the Sudan crisis, emphasising the need for a comprehensive approach to hold all perpetrators accountable.

It is crucial to highlight that North Darfur, particularly the villages surrounding al-Fasher west of the city (ref. 5), has been subjected to relentless attacks by RSF. These attacks have included shelling and mortar fire directed at the northern part of the city. As a result, innocent civilians have been killed based on their ethnicity, villages have been burned and ransacked, and the city has remained under the protection of the joint forces since the outbreak of the 15th April 2023 war. Humanitarian and international organisations, as well as international officials, have warned of the grave consequences of an attack on al-Fasher, which could lead to an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe (ref. 6). In Kas, South Darfur, a similar pattern unfolds as individuals are targeted based on ethnicity. The RSF in the region have issued warnings and demanded that members of the Zaghawa tribe vacate the city with immediate effect or face the fate of Masalit in El-geneina

Moreover, the damning report released by the Centre for Information Resilience (CIR) highlights the alarming escalation of violence in Darfur. In March, the highest monthly total of fire events was recorded since the conflict significantly intensified last May. The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) targeted several villages in Darfur, notably razing the town of Misterei, which was home to thousands of Masalit people (ref. 7). The same place was brutally targeted by RSF a few month back triggering ICC investigations into war crimes (ref. 8). This ruthless act was carried out based on ethnicity, revealing a deeply disturbing tactic of the RSF's genocidal ideology. The deliberate destruction of villages as part of a wider strategy underscores the grave humanitarian crisis unfolding in Sudan as ethnic cleansing and violence continue to grip the region.

Furthermore, the Darfur Union criticises the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) for engaging in secretive talks with the RSF. The Union points out the historical involvement of the UK government in training Sudanese soldiers and police during the oppressive regime of ICC indictee Omar al-Bashir (ref. 9). The secretive talks with the genocidal RSF are seen as a betrayal of values and interests before the people of Sudan, reflecting poorly on the FCDO and raising questions about the UK government's diplomatic integrity.

In addition to the political issues, the Darfur Union draws attention to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Sudan, referencing the latest report from the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) on Sudan. Joyce Msuya, Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator said in the briefing on the 15th April “In addition to scaled-up resources, we also need humanitarian access. Too often, aid agencies are not able to get lifesaving supplies to people in need due to insecurity, violence and red tape. These factors often lead to weeks or even months of delays – delays that can literally mean the difference between life and death for communities fighting for their survival “(ref. 10). The Union highlights the challenges faced in delivering aid to Sudan and particularly to Darfur, emphasising the urgent need to address the gaps created by the prolonged war, in particular the looting and also obstruction of aid and medical supplies by RSF and their allied Janjaweed militia.

The Union also comments on the recent Paris conference on Sudan, where promises of $2 billion were made to address the humanitarian crisis. However, the exclusive nature of the conference raised concerns as several organisations and regions of Sudan were denied participation. The Darfur Union asserts that the international community has failed to fulfill their commitments to the people of Sudan, calling for more inclusive and effective efforts to alleviate the suffering in the region. And also to put words into actions, and enough of the Lib Service. The international community's attempts at political solutions with a humanitarian bent have fallen short in Sudan. Over the past five years, their imposed mechanisms favored certain parties, deepening divisions and fueling crises. This trend continued at the recent Paris conference, with selective policies pushing Sudan further into turmoil.

*The Imperative for Global Intervention*

The Union urges the international community to take decisive steps, including:

Impose targeted sanctions on individuals and entities involved in committing crimes in Sudan.
Support the International Criminal Court (ICC) in investigating and prosecuting those responsible for war crimes, including sexual violence. This includes providing resources for witness protection and ensuring the safety of those who come forward.
Hold the leaders of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) accountable for the crimes against humanity and war crimes they have committed against the people of Darfur, including Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, Abdelrahim Hamdan Dagalo (sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury (ref. 11)), Algony Hamdan Dagalo, and Abdelrahman Juma Barak Allah (also sanctioned by the US Treasury (ref. 11)). It is also important to support the ICC on the ongoing cases (Abdelrahman Kushayb, ref. 12) and also to bring to Justice those ICC indictees who are still at large (Omar al-Bashir (ref. 13), Abdelrahim Mohammed Hussein (ref. 14) and Ahmed Haroun (ref. 15)).
Provide a mandate and the support needed to the Joint Forces, which are made up of signatories to the Juba Peace Agreement, to expand their areas of operation and protect civilians.
Put pressure on the fighting groups in Darfur and Sudan to stop shelling civilian areas, stop the war and for the RSF to withdraw from occupied neighborhoods, including Darfur, Khartoum، al-Jazira and other cities.
Increase humanitarian assistance to Darfur, Sudan and East Chad through the Port Sudan and Douala port, Cameroon. The situation in East Chad is dire to say the least. The lack of food, medical supplies and outbreak of the malaria and other infectious diseases are pushing the situation towards a disaster if immediate actions are not put in place.
Reactivation of Chapter VII of the UN Charter: The time for half-measures is over. The international community must send a clear message that impunity will not be tolerated. Reactivating Chapter VII, which authorises the use of force to maintain international peace and security, could be a necessary step to curb the violence and protect civilians.

The Darfur Union emphasises the importance of holistic and transparent approaches in addressing the crisis in Sudan, urging for accountability, inclusive dialogue, and genuine efforts to prioritise the protection of the Sudanese people above all else.

Darfur Union in the UK

Arabic Forum