The United States Congress has introduced a bill titled “Designating the Rapid Support Forces in Sudan as a Terrorist Organization.” The bill directs the Secretary of State to conduct a comprehensive review on whether the group should be placed on terrorism lists, coinciding with the third anniversary of the war in Sudan.
The bill, introduced by Representative Jonathan Jackson of Illinois, stipulates that the Secretaries of State and Treasury must submit a joint recommendation within 90 days of the law’s passage to determine whether the Rapid Support Forces meet the criteria for designation as a “Specially Designated Global Terrorist” organization.
If the Secretary of State recommends designating the Rapid Support Forces as a terrorist organization, the U.S. President would, through the Secretaries of State and Treasury, impose sanctions including asset freezes, travel bans to the United States, and visa revocations, with exceptions for activities related to humanitarian aid, national security, and intelligence.
If enacted, the law would also require the Secretary of State to submit a report outlining their position on the designation, along with detailed information on countries and entities providing material support to the Rapid Support Forces, including the type and approximate financial value of such support. The report would also assess the group’s ability to sustain itself without external backing and the potential implications for U.S. national security and foreign policy.
