``Moatinoon`` publishes Remarks from the U.S. Secretary of State’s press conference“RSF do not honor agreements — and we will designate them as a terrorist organization if…”

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U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed deep concern over the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Sudan, directing indirect criticism at certain regional actors—most notably the United Arab Emirates—for continuing to supply the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) with weapons and military equipment.

In a press briefing, Rubio described the Sudan crisis as “catastrophic,” affirming that Washington, through the Quad Group—which includes the United States, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE—is working to halt the flow of arms and external support to the RSF. He stated, “Our main problem is that the RSF agrees to things but never follows through. What we’re witnessing now is a humanitarian tragedy in every sense.”

The Secretary noted that reports from humanitarian organizations reveal unprecedented levels of malnutrition and suffering among civilians, adding that the lower-than-expected number of refugees fleeing conflict zones “suggests that many have either died or are too weak from hunger and disease to move.”

Responding to a question about the UAE’s role, Rubio said the U.S. “knows exactly which parties are involved and is exerting pressure at the highest levels,” emphasizing that the solution cannot come through a war “in which civilians are literally being targeted with rape, sexual violence, and killing.” He added, “It’s clear that the RSF is receiving external assistance, and this issue must be addressed to stop the catastrophe.”

Rubio also indicated that Washington is considering all available measures, including designating the RSF as a foreign terrorist organization, if such a step would help end the crisis. He concluded: “We will not allow the Quad process to be a shield for inaction. We need tangible, swift results—otherwise, Sudan’s tragedy will only deepen.”

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, I’d like to go to another region – apologize for that.

SECRETARY RUBIO: Which one?

QUESTION: Sudan.

SECRETARY RUBIO: Oh, yeah. It’s terrible.

QUESTION: Exactly, and I saw the communique that the G7 put out today. I mean, what is your take? Is there anything that can be done right now? Because the situation —

SECRETARY RUBIO: Unlike the Caribbean, which anybody who told you that was discussed is not being honest with you – not a single person brought it up in any of those – and we had three meetings with the whole group of four – that was discussed, and we’re very concerned. As you know, we’ve been sponsoring this Quad initiative along with Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates, and I think the fundamental problem we have is that the RSF agrees to things and then never – never follows through with it, so now what you have is a calamity on your hands.

And so we’ve – I had meetings on this yesterday. We discussed it multiple times with multiple countries today, and I think something needs to be done to cut off the weapons and the support that the RSF is getting as they continue with their advances. I think it’s telling – the humanitarian groups are telling us that some of the levels of malnutrition and suffering that they’re seeing from some of these people who have been able to flee is unprecedented, they’ve said. They’ve recorded things they’ve never recorded before, and I think even more troubling is that they didn’t have the number of refugees they expected to receive because they assume many of them are either dead or so sick and malnourished they can’t move anymore. So what’s happening there is horrifying.

We have worked I think all the way back to July and August on this Quad because there are countries involved in helping these elements on the ground fighting, and we share many of the same concerns that others do about how that could turn into a nest for jihadist and terrorist activity. But the solution to it is not to fight a war where civilians literally are being targeted for rape, sexual violence, and murder, and that’s what happening.

QUESTION: But the UAE —

QUESTION: What’s your assessment on the UAE’s role in this conflict?

QUESTION: But the UAE is still supplying them with drones, Chinese drones.

SECRETARY RUBIO: Yeah, so we’re working hard – we know who the parties are that are involved. These things – that’s why they’re part of the Quad along with other countries involved. And so I can just tell you at the highest levels of our government that case is being made and that pressure is being applied to the relevant parties. I don’t want to get into calling anybody out at a press conference today, because what we want is a good outcome here. This needs to stop. I mean, they’re clearly receiving assistance from outside that’s allowing them – and clearly that assistance isn’t just coming from some country that’s paying for it. It’s also coming from countries that are allowing their territory to be used to ship it and transport it. So that – in order for this to be solved, that needs to be addressed.

I don’t know if you saw the RSF a few days ago agreed to a humanitarian ceasefire, but they don’t intend to comply with it. And when you raise the issue of these atrocities, they always hide behind the argument that this is rogue elements. Well, it’s not rogue elements. It’s – they’re doing it systematically, and it’s something that we have taken very seriously and are doing everything we can to bring the relevant countries to the table to stop it. It needs to end.

QUESTION: Would you support the – would you support the Senate push, bipartisan Senate push, to label the RSF either a Foreign Terrorist Organization or SDTG?

SECRETARY RUBIO: Yeah, I mean, if it would be helpful in bringing this to an end, we would. I haven’t seen that proposal. I know some senators discussed it with me months ago. But in the end, we just want this – this needs to stop. And I think unfortunately what’s happening here is the RSF has concluded that they’re winning and they want to keep going. And by going – they’re not just fighting a war, which war alone is bad enough. They are – they’re committing acts of sexual violence and atrocities, just horrifying atrocities, against women, children, innocent civilians of the most horrific kind. And it needs to end immediately.

And we’re going to do everything we can to bring it to an end, and we’ve encouraged partner nations to join us in this fight. And we’re not going to let the Quad process that we’ve set up be a shield that people hide behind and say, “Well, we’re involved with the Quad. We’re trying to solve it.” We need actionable results, and they need to happen very quickly; otherwise, what’s already a travesty is going to get far worse.

QUESTION: Can I ask you more specifically about your assessment of the scale of the atrocities? I mean, we heard these reports recently of 460 patients in a hospital, civilians, being killed by the RSF.

SECRETARY RUBIO: Yeah, those are the ones that can get out.

QUESTION: Yeah. I mean, what – do you have an assessment of the scale overall of what’s been committed in El Fasher?

SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, I don’t know about numbers. I can tell you that the one thing that I think was most shocking to us is that they anticipated receiving thousands of refugees, and they didn’t. So obviously, these aren’t people that are happy living there after a year of siege against the city. There’s a reason why they didn’t come out. And we fear that the reason why they didn’t come out is because they’re dead or because they’re so sick and so famished that they can’t move. So I think it’s even worse – not that refugee flows in crisis is a positive thing, but when the refugees don’t come and you know they would otherwise, you have these suspicions that they’re either dead or about to die. And that is just what really is weighing on us right now.