Bipartisan U.S. Call for Stronger Action Against Sudan’s Paramilitaries

October 30, 2025 – Republican and Democratic lawmakers in the United States are urging President Donald Trump’s administration to take stronger action against Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) after the group seized new territory and reportedly attacked civilians in the war-torn region of Darfur.

Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, called for the U.S. to officially designate the RSF as a foreign terrorist organization (FTO), citing the group’s pattern of violence and mass atrocities.

“The horrors in Darfur’s El-Fasher were no accident — they were the RSF’s plan all along,” Risch said in a post on X. “The RSF has waged terror and committed unspeakable atrocities, genocide among them, against the Sudanese people.”

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Democrats Signal Support for Terrorist Designation

Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-New Hampshire), the committee’s top Democrat, expressed conditional support for a formal terrorist designation of the RSF, emphasizing the severity of the situation.

When asked by reporters whether she would support such a move, Shaheen replied, “Probably,” while noting she would need more time to review the details. She also criticized the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for its alleged role in the conflict, saying:

“The UAE has been an irresponsible player who has contributed to one of the worst humanitarian crises that we have on the planet right now.”

The UAE government has denied providing any form of support to either warring party. In an official statement, its Strategic Communications Department said the UAE supports ceasefire efforts and accountability for violations, referencing a UN Panel of Experts report that found no substantiated evidence of UAE involvement with the RSF.

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Background: Sudan’s Escalating Conflict and Humanitarian Crisis

The war in Sudan, which began in April 2023, stems from a power struggle between the Sudanese army and the RSF. The conflict has spiraled into one of the world’s worst humanitarian disasters, with:

• Tens of thousands killed
• 13 million people displaced
• Several regions facing famine conditions

Recent reports indicate that Al-Fashir, the army’s last major stronghold in western Darfur, fell to the RSF after an 18-month siege, further consolidating the paramilitary group’s control. Humanitarian organizations warn that ethnically motivated revenge attacks could escalate as RSF forces expand their reach.

Eyewitnesses, including survivor Ikram Abdelhameed, described scenes of men being beaten and shot while fleeing the city, with accounts corroborated by aid workers, satellite imagery, and social media footage.

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U.S. and International Response

The State Department has not yet commented on whether it plans to pursue a terrorist designation for the RSF. However, in January, the prior Biden administration determined that members of the RSF and allied militias had committed genocide in Sudan and imposed sanctions on the group’s leader, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti).

If the Trump administration moves forward with an FTO designation, it would represent a significant escalation in U.S. policy toward Sudan, potentially triggering new sanctions and international pressure on the RSF and its backers.

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Global Concerns and the Path Forward

The fall of Darfur’s El-Fasher marks a major turning point in the Sudan conflict, intensifying fears of renewed ethnic cleansing and mass displacement. The humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate, with aid groups warning of famine, disease outbreaks, and lack of access to medical supplies.

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle agree that Washington must take decisive action to prevent further atrocities and hold perpetrators accountable. As global attention shifts back to Sudan, analysts say the U.S. response could influence broader international efforts to restore peace and stability in the region.