Sudan accuses Uganda of backing 'genocide' by hosting RSF commander

Sudan has formally condemned Uganda for hosting Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, the commander of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), in a meeting that marks his first public appearance since September. In a strongly worded statement issued Sunday, Sudan's Foreign Ministry described the reception by Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni as a "blatant disregard for the crimes of genocide" allegedly committed by the RSF.

Khartoum: A Breach of Regional Commitments

The Sudanese Foreign Ministry argued that Uganda's actions contradict its commitments to good neighborliness and the principles of regional organizations like the African Union, which have documented and condemned the RSF's atrocities. The statement asserted that welcoming Dagalo "disregards the most basic human values and ignores the scale of the crimes committed against Sudanese citizens." Khartoum characterized the move as a violation of international norms governing relations between states and constitutes "support for rebel forces against a legitimate, internationally recognized government."

While acknowledging Uganda's sovereign right to maintain bilateral relations, the ministry stated that this specific act "reflects a new policy of the Ugandan government towards Sudan, supporting the rebels and acting against the unity, security, and safety of the Sudanese people." The ministry stressed that this step provides "direct support for the genocidal crimes committed by the rebels against civilians, which have been documented by independent international organizations."

Warnings and Ongoing Conflict

The Sudanese government issued a clear warning, stating it "will not allow its territory or the territory of neighboring countries to be used to support rebel forces against the state." There has been no immediate response from Ugandan officials regarding the diplomatic protest.

The meeting in Entebbe brought Dagalo back into the international spotlight amid Sudan's devastating civil war. Since April 2023, the conflict between the Sudanese army and the RSF has killed tens of thousands, displaced approximately 13 million people, and created one of the world's most severe humanitarian crises, according to United Nations reports.