ONTARIO, Canada — U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has called on the international community to take urgent action to halt the flow of weapons to Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF), warning that the paramilitary group’s continued access to arms is fueling mass killings, sexual violence, and widespread atrocities in the Darfur region. Rubio made the remarks Wednesday after attending a meeting of the G7 in Ontario, Canada.
“The atrocities being committed by the RSF are horrifying. They include systematic acts of sexual violence, murder, and attacks on innocent civilians, including women and children,” Rubio said at Hamilton Airport. “This violence must end immediately, and we are mobilizing international partners to help stop it.”
RSF’s Offensive in Darfur and Humanitarian Crisis
The RSF, a paramilitary group that broke away from Sudan’s central military command, recently overran El Fasher, the last remaining stronghold of the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) in western Sudan, following a 500-day siege. Since capturing the city, reports of widespread atrocities have emerged, including indiscriminate bombings, mass killings, sexual violence, and attacks on hospitals.
Rubio highlighted that humanitarian agencies report unprecedented levels of malnutrition and suffering among displaced civilians. “Many people who have fled are either dead or so malnourished that they cannot move,” Rubio said. “The human toll is staggering, and it is being systematically inflicted by the RSF, not rogue elements.”
International Response and the Role of the Quad
The U.S. government has accused the RSF of repeatedly failing to comply with agreements, including recent promises of humanitarian cease-fires. Rubio emphasized that weapons and financial support to the RSF have flowed through a third country, with implications that some members of the Quad initiative—consisting of the UAE, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia—may have been indirectly involved.
While the UAE denies supplying weapons, U.N. experts report that the country has covertly provided support to the RSF, prompting U.S. sanctions in January on seven UAE-based companies linked to RSF chief Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, also known as Hemedti.
Rubio underscored that the Quad process, intended to mediate the Sudan conflict, cannot serve as a shield for parties providing resources to the RSF. “We are committed to bringing relevant countries to the table to stop the violence,” Rubio said.
RSF’s Use of Sexual Violence as a Weapon
The United Nations has condemned the RSF for using rape and sexual assault as a deliberate weapon of war in El Fasher. Women fleeing the city have reported horrific conditions, including sexual violence, starvation, and attacks on civilian infrastructure. These actions, according to UN officials, constitute systematic atrocities designed to terrorize civilian populations.
Rubio’s comments came as part of a broader push to coordinate international sanctions, restrict arms flows, and reinforce humanitarian efforts in Sudan. He stressed that ending the RSF’s access to weapons is critical to halting the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Darfur.
The Road Ahead
As the Sudanese conflict intensifies, international attention is focused on holding the RSF accountable while preventing further escalation. Rubio’s call to action signals a coordinated diplomatic effort to cut off the RSF from external funding and arms, and to pressure nations that may be indirectly supporting the paramilitary group.
“Ending these atrocities requires global cooperation,” Rubio said. “We are urging all responsible nations to act decisively to prevent further suffering and uphold the rule of law in Sudan.”
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