US Senators Urge Trump to Designate Sudan's RSF as Terrorist Amid Humanitarian Crisis

Republican and Democratic US senators are urging President Donald Trump's administration to take strong action after Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) seized new territory, including the city of El-Fasher, reportedly attacking civilians and committing atrocities. Senator Jim Risch, chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, called for officially designating the RSF as a foreign terrorist organization, accusing the group of genocide and orchestrated terror. Senator Jeanne Shaheen expressed probable support for this designation but wants to review the matter further, while also criticizing the United Arab Emirates for allegedly providing military support to the RSF, a claim the UAE denies. The conflict, which began in April 2023 between the RSF and the Sudanese army, has caused tens of thousands of deaths and displaced about 13 million people, creating one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. The State Department has yet to comment on whether it will proceed with the terrorist designation amid growing bipartisan pressure. The UN and aid groups have condemned the violence, including reports of over 460 people killed in a maternity hospital in Darfur's El-Fasher.