U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has called for international action to halt arms supplies to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan, accused of massacres and severe crimes against civilians in the Darfur region.
The RSF has carried out killings, rapes, and organized sexual violence, while the Sudanese army accuses the United Arab Emirates of supplying weapons and mercenaries—a claim denied by both the RSF and the UAE. The conflict between the RSF and Sudanese army began in April 2023, escalating into a civil war over a struggle for power.
Rubio described the situation as a “horrific campaign against women, children, and innocent civilians” and called for an immediate halt to arms supplies and international support for the RSF. However, the U.S. avoided directly criticizing Abu Dhabi, despite evidence showing its role as a major arms supplier, in order to maintain cooperation in efforts to end the conflict alongside Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, part of the so-called “Quad.”
The situation remains alarming in El-Fasher and Western Darfur, where the RSF controls major cities, and systematic massacres against non-Arab groups are considered genocide by the U.S. and humanitarian organizations.
