Women Journalists Without Chains (WJWC) has welcomed the recent sanctions announced by the U.S. State Department against Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, widely known as “Hemedti,” the commander of Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF), along with companies supporting him in the UAE. 

The sanctions, revealed on January 7, 2025, target Hemedti and his network in response to crimes committed by the RSF and allied militias. These crimes include ethnic cleansing, genocide, and gross human rights violations, as documented by international and local organizations. 

WJWC has long sounded the alarm over the RSF’s systematic violations, particularly against women and girls in Sudan. In a statement issued on December 19, 2024, the organization detailed atrocities such as mass rape and murder carried out by the RSF, calling for urgent international intervention. The violations, WJWC emphasized, constitute grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and its Additional Protocol II. 

In its latest statement, WJWC called on the global community to escalate measures against Hemedti and his network. It urged major powers, particularly those with political or economic ties to the RSF, to impose additional sanctions, freeze assets, and sever links to funding networks supporting the group. 

“The imposition of sanctions is an important step, but it is not enough,” WJWC said. “We need a comprehensive international response, including the formation of an independent investigation committee under the United Nations to document crimes and ensure accountability before the International Criminal Court.” 

The organization also called for urgent measures to support survivors of sexual violence, including psychological, medical, and legal aid. It stressed the importance of bolstering humanitarian efforts for displaced persons and refugees while ensuring perpetrators face justice. 

“Sudanese women and girls have borne the brunt of these violations,” WJWC added. “Justice remains out of reach for the victims, and the international community must act collectively to end impunity and deliver accountability.” 

WJWC reaffirmed its commitment to advocating for justice in Sudan, emphasizing that peace, safety, and a just future are essential for the country’s women and girls, who continue to endure the devastating impact of violence and conflict. 

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Women Journalists Without Chains

January 9, 2025