Days ago, the RSF militia carried out a brutal massacre in Elfashir; thousands were killed based on their ethnic background in a single day, including patients at a hospital, women, and children who were lined up and shot. Satellite images reveal that the militia put the victims in a mass burial to hide its crime.

In response to this tragic event, Canada issued a joint statement condemning the violations of the Rapid Support Forces militia. However, there are stronger actions and measures Canada should take to prevent the militia from committing another genocide and to support those who are impacted by the war.  

When war erupted in Sudan in April 2023 between the National Army and the Rapid Support Forces militia, few could have imagined the scale of devastation that would follow. Thousands have been killed, millions driven from their homes, and entire communities erased.

The Rapid Support Forces originated mainly from the 2013 reorganization of the infamous Janjaweed militia. They were established to assist government counterinsurgency efforts in Darfur and South Kordofan. The Sudanese parliament formally legitimized its operations through legislation in 2017. Throughout the conflict, the RSF has been responsible for numerous atrocities, including village devastation, protester killings, sexual assaults, mass murders, illegal imprisonments, attacks on medical facilities and religious buildings, aggression toward media personnel and organizations, ethnically motivated violence, and the use of child soldiers.

There are three key issues that Canada should urgently address to mitigate the ongoing crisis in Sudan.

Canada should move on and list the RSF militia as a terrorist entity; undoubtedly, the militia is fulfilling the requirements in the Anti-Terrorism Act to be designated as such by knowingly carrying out terrorist activities both in El-Fashir and in other regions of Sudan, for that matter. Such a designation will significantly limit the militia’s capabilities and deter it from further violent actions. Moreover, the designation will provide the legal ground for Canadian citizens and permanent residents who suffer losses or damage from the RSF actions and any foreign state in relation to it under the Justice for Victims of Terrorism Act. 

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