Hemedti, leader of SRF accused of human rights abuses in Darfur and elsewhere, is now sanctioned by the US Government. |Courtesy: Mohammed Amin |
The United States of America on Tuesday, January 7, announced a determination of genocide in Sudan, and leveled sanctions on the Rapid Support Forces (SRF) and its leader, General Mohammad Hamdan Daglo Mousa, known as Hemedti; the Sentry commends these actions.
According to John Prendergast, co-founder of The Sentry, General Hemedti is ultimately responsible for some of the most heinous atrocities being committed anywhere in the world today.
“Without serious measures of legal and financial accountability, the RSF will continue its rampage. Today’s actions by the Biden administration – including the genocide determination as well as sanctions against Hemedti and some of the foreign firms profiting from Sudan’s chaos – are an important start to creating that accountability. These actions hopefully can provide leverage both for deterring future human rights crimes as well as for helping to drag the RSF into treating ceasefire negotiations more seriously,” Prendergast said in a statement extended to The Golden Times.
On his part, Brian Adeba, Senior Advisor at The Sentry, said for far too long, mass atrocities that amount to genocide have occurred in the Darfur region of Sudan.
“In the current conflict, these atrocities have been recorded in several regions of the country. Today’s genocide determination sends a strong message to victims that their suffering is recognized, and justice is being sought. Most importantly, the determination signals that the world is waking up to the task of holding those who commit mass atrocities accountable. This determination must be accompanied by bold and concrete action to not only hold perpetrators accountable, but also protect civilians, and support the pursuit of justice and peace in Sudan,” Adeba said.
Read more…
US genocide determination: https://www.state.gov/genocide-determination-in-sudan-and-imposing-accountability-measures/
Sanctions announcement: https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy2772
