Sudan Urges International Community to Designate RSF as Terrorist Group Amid Escalating Civil War
Khartoum, Sudan – The Sudanese government is intensifying diplomatic efforts to have the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) formally designated as a terrorist organization, a move officials believe will isolate the paramilitary group and potentially shift the trajectory of the brutal civil war that has gripped the nation since April 2023.
The call for designation comes as the conflict enters a new phase, marked by shifting battle lines and a worsening humanitarian crisis. Sudan’s Foreign Ministry released a statement Tuesday urging the global community to respond to repeated appeals from Khartoum, citing the RSF’s alleged responsibility for widespread atrocities, war crimes, and acts of terror.
The demand follows a recent U.S. decision to designate the Sudanese branch of the Muslim Brotherhood as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist entity, with plans to classify it as a Foreign Terrorist Organization beginning March 16, 2026. Sudanese officials argue for consistent application of such designations, stating that armed factions accused of large-scale violence against civilians should be held to the same standard as political or ideological groups.
The civil war erupted from a power struggle between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the RSF, commanded by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti. Disagreements over the integration of the RSF into the regular military sparked the conflict, which began with coordinated RSF attacks on military bases and strategic locations, including Khartoum International Airport and the presidential palace.
While the SAF regained control of key districts in the capital Khartoum by early 2025, including the presidential palace, the RSF remains entrenched in the Darfur region, maintaining strongholds in Kordofan and other southern territories. This has effectively divided the country into competing zones of control.
The human cost of the conflict is staggering. Analysts estimate more than 150,000 people have been killed, and millions have been displaced, creating one of the world’s worst displacement crises. Neighboring countries like Chad, South Sudan, and Egypt are struggling to accommodate the influx of refugees, while those remaining inside Sudan face severe shortages of food, medicine, and clean water.
Concerns are growing over potential war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the conflict. Investigations have documented allegations of mass killings, sexual violence, ethnic targeting, and deliberate attacks on civilian infrastructure. Reports indicate violence carried out by RSF forces in western Sudan bears the hallmarks of genocide, particularly in attacks targeting non-Arab communities in Darfur.
The RSF has denied accusations of systematic war crimes, claiming it is fighting against a military dictatorship. However, the Sudanese government insists the RSF is an armed rebellion seeking to dismantle the state.
Khartoum believes a terrorist designation would restrict the RSF’s access to international funding and weapons, strengthening the government’s position both on the battlefield and in future negotiations. Officials have repeatedly warned that the conflict risks wider regional destabilization, particularly as neighboring countries become increasingly involved. Recent drone strikes in Kordofan highlight the escalating military tactics employed by both sides.
The situation remains fluid, and whether the international community will heed Sudan’s call for designation remains uncertain. As the conflict enters its third year, Sudan’s leaders are increasingly relying on diplomatic pressure and international law in an effort to alter the course of a war that has fundamentally reshaped the nation’s future.
