US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has urged the international community to cut off arms supplies to Sudan’s Rapid Response Force (RSF), which is accused of mass killings in El-Fasher.

Speaking at the closing ceremony of the G7 foreign ministers’ meeting in Canada, Rubio said the RSF had committed systematic atrocities against civilians, including murder, rape, and sexual violence.

The Sudanese army has accused the United Arab Emirates of arming the RSF by supplying weapons and recruiting mercenaries from other African countries. Both the UAE and the RSF have repeatedly denied the allegations.

The RSF has been engaged in conflict with the Sudanese army since 2023, following a power struggle that escalated into civil war. Rubio’s remarks represent some of the strongest statements from the Trump administration regarding the war in Sudan, though their potential impact remains uncertain.

Last week, the two sides agreed to a US-backed humanitarian accord, which has reportedly been violated by the RSF. El-Fasher fell under RSF control after an 18-month siege, and the group now dominates most towns in West Darfur.