Ambassador Siddig urges international community to declare RSF a terrorist organization

2026-02-19 - 20:23

UN report confirms rebel militia’s war crimes The Ambassador of Sudan to Pakistan, Salih Mohamed Ahmed Mohamed Siddig, on Thursday called on the international community to designate the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) as a terrorist organization, citing a new United Nations report that documents widespread war crimes and atrocities committed during the capture of El Fasher. Addressing a media briefing at the Embassy, Ambassador Siddig shared findings from a recent report issued by the UN Human Rights Office titled “Sudan: RSF Violations during Capture of El Fasher.” The report details what it describes as a “wave of intense violence... shocking in its scale and brutality” during the RSF’s final offensive on the besieged city in October last year. According to the report, based on interviews with more than 140 victims and witnesses conducted in Sudan’s Northern State and eastern Chad in late 2025, over 6,000 people were killed in the first three days of the offensive. At least 4,400 were reportedly killed within El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur State, while more than 1,600 others lost their lives along escape routes. The actual death toll is believed to be significantly higher. The UN findings accuse the RSF and allied Arab militias of carrying out mass killings, summary executions, sexual violence, abductions for ransom, torture, enforced disappearances, and the recruitment and use of children in hostilities, said the ambassador. The report concludes there are reasonable grounds to believe these acts amount to war crimes, including murder, deliberate attacks on civilians, starvation as a method of warfare, and attacks on medical and humanitarian personnel. The Sudanese ambassador quoted the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk who stressed the need for credible and impartial investigations to ensure accountability, including through national courts, universal jurisdiction, or the International Criminal Court. Ambassador Siddig alleged that the war in Sudan was imposed by external powers seeking to destabilize the country and dominate its resources. He urged the international community to take immediate steps to halt all forms of support to the RSF, including the supply of weapons, mercenaries, financial backing, and media assistance, which he claimed largely originates from the UAE. “Sudan refuses any proposal for peace that equates the Sudanese Armed Forces with the RSF rebel militia or allows its continued existence after the heinous crimes committed against innocent civilians,” he said. The ambassador also highlighted a peace initiative presented before the UN Security Council in December 2025 by Sudan’s Prime Minister, Kamil Idris. He described the proposal as a realistic and inclusive framework aimed at protecting civilians, restoring state authority, and paving the way for national reconciliation. About bilateral ties with Pakistan and its support in war against the RSF, Ambassador Siddig said Sudan valued Pakistan’s support both diplomatic and humanitarian. Sudan and Pakistan enjoy deep-rooted and brotherly relations based on mutual respect, shared Islamic values, similarities between their peoples and rich tradition. Both the countries also face similar challenges as well as opportunities, he said. Sudan and Pakistan, he said, are known for their good coordination in regional and international forums. Calling for global partnership, Ambassador Siddig said Sudan seeks support for peace, justice, and dignity for its people, warning that prolonging the conflict risks further destabilizing the region.