High Representative Kaja Kallas has pushed back against calls from a cross-party group of MEPs to designate Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF) as a terrorist organisation under EU law, arguing that the legal prerequisites for such a listing have not been met. In a written answer to a parliamentary question tabled by Marit Maij (S&D) and 12 other MEPs, Kallas stressed that EU restrictive measures to combat terrorism require a competent authority decision that the entity has been involved in terrorist acts, as defined by Article 1 of Council Decision (CFSP) 2026/455. Listing decisions are adopted by the Council acting unanimously, she added.
The answer, published on 30 April 2026, responds to a question submitted on 12 March 2026, in which the MEPs urged the Council to urgently assess whether the RSF meets the criteria for inclusion on the EU's terrorist list, following the capture of El Fasher in October 2025 and widespread reports of mass killings, systematic sexual violence and ethnically targeted attacks. The MEPs cited the US determination that members of the RSF and allied militias have committed genocide, and recalled Parliament's resolution of 25 November 2025 calling for such a listing.
Kallas did not commit to raising the issue at the next Council of Foreign Affairs meeting, as requested by the MEPs. Instead, she outlined the EU's existing response: the Council adopted restrictive measures against the RSF Deputy Commander on 20 November 2025 and sanctioned five more RSF-affiliated individuals on 29 January 2026. The EU supports investigations by the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the UN Independent International Fact-Finding Mission, which in a 19 February 2026 report found 'hallmarks of genocide' in El Fasher.
The answer signals a cautious, legally grounded approach from the Commission, prioritising targeted sanctions and support for international justice mechanisms over a blanket terrorist designation. This reflects a cleavage between MEPs pushing for stronger symbolic and practical action against the RSF and the Commission's insistence on strict legal criteria and unanimous Council decision-making. The EU has also allocated €20 million under the 2024 Individual Measures to strengthen human rights protection and improve living conditions for vulnerable groups affected by the conflict.
Stakeholders impacted include the RSF and its leadership, who face continued EU sanctions but avoid a terrorist listing that would freeze all assets and criminalise any support; EU member states, which retain control over listing decisions via unanimity; Sudanese civilians, who benefit from EU humanitarian and human rights funding but may see limited deterrence; and international justice bodies like the ICC, which gain EU political and financial backing for their investigations. The Commission's stance suggests no immediate change in EU policy, with further action dependent on new evidence or a Council initiative.
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