Opinion
The US Congress needs to designate the RSF in Sudan as a terrorist organisation
December 2, 2024 
Smoke billows during air strikes in central Khartoum as the Sudanese army attacks positions held by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) throughout the Sudanese capital on October 12, 2024. [Photo by -/AFP via Getty Images]
by Mohamed Suliman
In April 2023, a war broke out in Sudan between the Sudanese Army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia; its impact has been dire, with thousands killed and millions displaced. The US Congress has pushed for an end to this war. Thus far, there have been several bills proposed in Congress; taken together, they address the serious risk of the RSF and seek to block the funds it receives from abroad, namely the UAE. This effort is of great importance, and it should be backed fully as it saves the lives of the Sudanese people and tackles the crisis at its root.
The RSF emerged primarily from restructuring the Janjaweed militia in 2013. The intention was that it would support the Khartoum government’s counterinsurgency operations in Darfur and South Kordofan. In 2017, the Sudanese parliament passed a law legitimising its activities, but it has since been engaged in countless crimes and atrocities, destroying villages, killing protestors, sexual violations and rape, mass killings and unlawful detentions. It has also targeted hospitals and churches and attacked journalists and media institutions, while killing people according to their ethnicity; and children have been recruited as soldiers.
The RSF has expanded its power with support from the UAE and its allies.
In December 2019, an investigative report exposed that the UAE supported the militia with millions of dollars in addition to vehicles that were repurposed for use in military operations. The UAE is also hosting the militia’s social media team, while several reports have claimed that it is directly supplying the RSF with military support through Chad using a hospital it established as cover. Recently, UAE-made armoured vehicles equipped with French systems were found to have been captured by the RSF militia. Reportedly, the UAE is behind the support that the militia has received from Russia’s Wagner group in Libya and the Central Republic of Africa in coordination with its allies in these countries. The UAE intention, it appears, is that if and when the RSF takes power in Sudan, Abu Dhabi will have access to Sudan’s agricultural resources and strategic ports on the Red Sea. This reckless intervention overlooks the serious risk of providing Wagner and Russia with a strong ally in Sudan that will destabilise regional and international security.
OPINION: Sudan UN resolution vetoed by Russia as Khartoum takes financial aim at the RSF
RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo — also known as Hemedti — visited Russia and openly backed its invasion of Ukraine. He once threatened Europe with an influx of immigrants if it rejected any measure of which he was part. His warning revealed how far the militia leader would go in weaponising the immigration issue, and the threat he poses to the whole region.
Thankfully, in a successful move to counter the RSF militia, the US House of Representatives passed a resolution that recognises the actions of the militia in Darfur as acts of genocide. The resolution cited independent reports that show how the militia targeted non-Arabic-speaking tribes in a clear ethnic cleansing campaign. The resolution also urged the US government to work with the international community to protect civilians in Sudan, and to open an investigation into genocide.
There are, however, several bills pending in Congress that effectively address the risk of the RSF. A couple of them, the Stand Up for Sudan Act, and a joint resolution of disapproval in the Senate demand the block of US arms sales to the UAE citing its support for the militia. A group of senators have introduced the Sudan Accountability Act to hold perpetrators of violence, including the RSF, accountable. Moreover, a group of four congressmen have called on President Joe Biden to sanction the RSF and its leaders for gross human rights violations. Congress members, on both sides, should work collaboratively and speed up the process of passing these crucial bills.
The US Congress really does need to designate the RSF as a terrorist organisation.
This is now more legitimate and necessary than ever before, based on the scale of human rights violations and massacres that the militia has committed against the people of Sudan. Such a designation will place a practical limit on the movements of the RSF and will have a significant impact on its operations and funding. It will also send a strong signal to the world that it has no place in Sudan’s future and is not welcomed by the US government.
OPINION: The Sudan war poses some difficult questions
The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Monitor.
SOUTH SUDAN
Opinion| The idea of one nation, one people is a distortion of our reality
The idea of one nation and one people is a distortion of our reality. As South Sudanese, we must be honest with ourselves and admit that we have not yet become a nation. For South Sudan to truly become a unified nation, the tribes must be willing to change or let go of their tribal allegiances. We must come together as citizens, without discrimination toward any tribe, to build a united country for ourselves and future generations. This is the only way we can prevent the complete disintegration of our country.
Former President Woodrow Wilson of the United States once said during a speech to thousands of immigrants who became American citizens in 1915: “You cannot dedicate yourself to America unless you fully embrace being an American in every aspect of your life. You cannot truly become an American if you only think of yourself or your own group. America is not made up of separate groups. A person who identifies solely with a particular national group has not yet become an American.”
The events of 2013 serve as a clear example that we are not yet one nation and one people. The massacre of the Nuer ethnic group in Juba, carried out as a result of a political disagreement within the ruling SPLM party, which then turned into a tribal conflict, demonstrates the importance of tribal identities to certain groups in South Sudan. This is why people were killed simply because they belonged to a different ethnic or clan group in Juba in 2013 and in Malakal in 2014. There was a chance for South Sudan to thrive after gaining independence in 2011, but this opportunity was squandered. If there had been a true national leader, we could have avoided the current senseless war. Unfortunately, President Kiir’s dictatorial tendencies led South Sudan into the conflict, driven by his own ego and hunger for power.
Today, many citizens who once supported the SPLM party have abandoned it, viewing it as the root of evil that has caused the deaths of thousands in the senseless war initiated by President Kiir in 2013. This is a clear illustration of how tribal politics has played a significant role in the current conflict in South Sudan, as President Kiir himself is a tribal leader.
After Kiir seized power in 2005 following Dr. John Garang’s tragic death, he created tribal and identity politics to divide the people of South Sudan along ethnic lines. Kiir used his presidential authority and the Presidential Guards to massacre thousands of Nuer ethnic group members in Juba. Similarly, the SPLM-IO and its army wing, the Nuer White Army, committed similar crimes in Malakal, Bor, Bantu, and other places, targeting non-Nuer ethnic groups.
Instead of peacefully relinquishing power and allowing for a peaceful transition, Kiir is attempting to create another war by appointing Bol Mel as acting President of South Sudan while he is absent for medical treatment. The recent standoff between former NSS General Akol Koor and President Kiir’s forces resulted in the deaths of many innocent people on both sides.
In my honest opinion, South Sudanese political leaders and the country’s parliament have failed and betrayed the people of South Sudan by allowing Kiir to violate the Transitional Constitution of the National Unity Government of 2011. Since 2013, Kiir has been ruling South Sudan through presidential decrees, disregarding the constitution. This has led to the current situation, where the people suffer from economic hardship and most civil servants have not received their salaries for the past eight months. Meanwhile, Kiir and his inner circle have spent millions of dollars bribing his loyalists, further exacerbating the suffering of the people.
Those who were high-ranking members of the SPLM party during the 2013 war should be barred from occupying any public office due to the party’s association with evil. The SPLM leadership, led by President Kiir, is responsible for the destruction of South Sudan and the deaths of hundreds of thousands of its citizens, who perished in a pointless war stemming from a power struggle within the party. I honestly believe that peace in South Sudan is unlikely while President Kiir remains in power, as he lacks the political will to uphold the peace agreements he has signed with opposition groups.
Many South Sudanese intellectuals feel frustrated, economically humiliated, and politically marginalized by President Kiir’s inner circle, who exploit opportunities to exclude them from participating in the country’s affairs. Kiir’s perception of being above the law in South Sudan has led him to violate the constitution, seemingly unconcerned about the repercussions. President Kiir is a tribal leader who prioritizes his own power and wealth, exhibiting authoritarian tendencies. Kiir could essentially ignore the transitional constitution because the South Sudanese parliament and political leaders are too corrupt to legally challenge him.
My question to all South Sudanese scholars and intellectuals is: How can we foster a collective and unified identity among the 64 tribes of South Sudan? In the United States of America, for instance, immigrant communities from diverse backgrounds have assimilated into the broader American identity. Why can South Sudanese from all 64 tribes not unite under a common South Sudanese identity?
It is essential for us to recognize that for South Sudan to become strong, united, and prosperous, we must let go of our tribal allegiances and prejudices against other ethnic groups. South Sudanese should embrace the idea of being equal citizens, regardless of our tribal backgrounds. We must promote tolerance, equality, individualism, and the power of reason to overcome irrational tribal animosity. By acknowledging that all 64 tribes share a common humanity and love for our country, we can forge a sense of unity.
It has been 19 years since President Kiir assumed power, and unfortunately, he has contributed to dividing our country along ethnic lines. There is, however, a significant opportunity for South Sudan to overcome tribalism and tribal hegemony. This can be achieved by electing a true nationalist leader who prioritizes our South Sudanese identity over individual tribal interests. By uniting all South Sudanese tribes under this common identity, we can overcome the divisions that have plagued us.
I am hopeful that this vision can be realized if the younger generation embraces it. The increasing number of intermarriages among South Sudanese people also suggests that this ideal can become a reality. Intermarriage strengthens our unity and bond as a nation, promoting diversity and encouraging unity.
To succeed as a nation, we must not only overcome tribalism but also address systemic inequality and injustice. Our tribal heritage is not a problem as long as we accept and celebrate our differences. We must reject tribalism and the marginalization of any South Sudanese citizens, as this will only lead to the disintegration of our country. We must let go of tribal hatred, prejudice, and injustice towards other tribes, and embrace a South Sudanese identity that encompasses all backgrounds.
For South Sudan to thrive, it is crucial for South Sudanese to elect a capable and visionary nationalist leader. This leader will be instrumental in propelling our country forward, uniting us as a nation, and moving us away from tribal politics. President Kiir and his groupings must be defeated, as they have brought shame upon us in the eyes of the world.
Together, as South Sudanese, we are stronger, and we must save our country from disintegration. Our nation is composed of a diverse multiethnic society, and by embracing our differences, we can celebrate the richness of our diversity. We have the potential to build a democratic South Sudan, where our people can freely and fairly elect a patriotic leader who can address the needs of all citizens.
The citizens of South Sudan must unite and take action to bring about change. Despite Kenya’s efforts for peace, as long as President Kiir and his inner circle continue to profit, South Sudan will not experience peace and stability. Those of us who have been observing President Kiir’s behavior since 2005 have seen that he disregards the welfare of the people of South Sudan. President Kiir’s politics have always been marked by betrayal. General Akol Koor, who served under Kiir for over 13 years, committed numerous murders to protect Kiir’s power. However, Kiir recently decided to get rid of Akol Koor once he was no longer useful.
There are several other examples of people who have been betrayed by Kiir, including Generals Obuto Mamur, Gen. David Yau Yau, Gen. Pagan Amum, Gen. Oyay Deng Ajak, Gen. Johnson Olony, and Dr. Riek Machar. It begs the question: Why do the people continue to support Kiir despite his betrayals? Is the problem with Kiir himself or with the people of South Sudan who blindly support him?
One wonders why the people of South Sudan continue to support a leader like Kiir who denies them the freedom to speak their minds and governs without the rule of law, human rights, equal justice, and freedom for all citizens. I oppose the South Sudanese elites and political establishment in Juba who squander our country’s resources and neglect the needs of our citizens. Some of these elites and political leaders encourage ethnic divisions to gain political power and serve their own interests.
Our people are resilient, and they deserve a true patriotic and visionary leader who can establish a peaceful and democratic republic in the heart of Africa. May God protect the people of South Sudan!
The author, Jwothab Othow, is an activist and critic of the South Sudan government. He can be reached at Jwothab@yahoo.com
The views expressed in ‘opinion’ articles published by Radio Tamazuj are solely those of the writer. The veracity of any claims made is the responsibility of the author, not Radio Tamazuj.
No comments:
Post a Comment