The United Kingdom has formally condemned Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) for what it describes as crimes against humanity, with the Foreign Office demanding accountability and justice for victims. In a statement issued this morning, Foreign Secretary David Lammy described the RSF’s actions as “a direct assault on the very principles of humanity,” citing evidence of systematic attacks on civilians, including mass killings, sexual violence, and forced displacement. The statement marks a significant escalation in diplomatic pressure against the paramilitary group, which has been engaged in a brutal conflict with the Sudanese Armed Forces since April 2023.
The condemnation follows weeks of intense lobbying by human rights organisations, who have documented widespread atrocities in Darfur, Khartoum, and other regions. According to a report by the UN Office for the High Commissioner for Human Rights, more than 10,000 civilians have been killed, and over 6 million displaced since the conflict began. The report specifically implicates the RSF in ethnic cleansing in West Darfur, where Janjaweed-linked fighters have systematically attacked non-Arab communities.
The Foreign Office has called on the International Criminal Court to expedite investigations, pledging additional funding for the collection of forensic evidence. “We will not look away from the suffering of the Sudanese people,” Lammy said, adding that the UK would work with allies to impose targeted sanctions on RSF leaders and their financial networks. The move aligns with recent actions by the United States, which earlier this month designated the RSF as a foreign terrorist organisation.
The RSF has denied the allegations, labelling them as politically motivated propaganda. In a statement, the group insisted it is committed to protecting civilians and accused the Sudanese Army of fabricating evidence. However, independent satellite imagery and testimonies from survivors paint a different picture. One humanitarian worker in Nyala told The Guardian, “They are not fighting a war. They are exterminating people.”
The UK’s condemnation comes at a critical juncture as international mediators struggle to broker a ceasefire. The African Union and Saudi Arabia have both failed to secure lasting peace, with the RSF repeatedly violating agreements. The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia, Catriona Laing, warned that the conflict is “spiralling into a regional catastrophe,” with refugee flows destabilising neighbouring Chad and Ethiopia.
Domestically, the announcement has drawn mixed reactions. While advocacy groups have praised the Foreign Office for taking a firmer stance, some critics argue that the UK has been slow to act, given that RSF atrocities have been reported for over a year. Others point to the UK’s historical ties to the Gulf states, which have been accused of arming the RSF, as a reason for past inaction.
The next steps for the UK include pressing for a UN Security Council resolution to refer the situation to the ICC and providing additional humanitarian aid to the region. The Foreign Office has also announced a diplomatic mission to N’Djamena to coordinate with Chadian officials on refugee protection.
For the Sudanese people, the announcement offers a glimmer of hope that the international community is finally paying attention. As one displaced teacher in Port Sudan told BBC News, “We have been forgotten for too long. Maybe now the world will listen.” But with the RSF showing no signs of de-escalation, the path to justice remains fraught with obstacles. The Foreign Office’s demand for accountability is a necessary step, but it is only one step in a long road to ending the bloodshed.
