Oh, look at that. The **United Nations** has finally decided to grace us with an opinion. After months of watching the **Sudan Civil War** tear the region apart, after countless people have lost their homes and their lives, the folks in the nice air-conditioned offices have come to a stunning conclusion. In their latest **UN Fact-Finding Mission report**, they say the atrocities in Sudan—specifically those attributed to the **Rapid Support Forces (RSF)**—have the "hallmarks of genocide."

I have to slow clap for that level of insight. Truly, it is breathtaking. It is like watching a house burn down to the ground, waiting until the roof collapses, and then standing in the ashes to announce, "You know, this really looks like a fire happened here."

This new report focuses heavily on the **siege of El-Fasher**. I always wonder what these missions actually look like. Do they walk around with magnifying glasses like detectives in an old cartoon? They were looking into the capture of El-Fasher by the RSF. The RSF, as we all know, has not exactly been subtle. They do not hide what they are doing. They are quite loud about it. But the international community apparently needs a formal report, typed up nicely with the correct margins, before they can admit that a severe **human rights crisis** is happening.

Let’s talk about that phrase: "hallmarks of genocide." It is such a perfect, cowardly little phrase. It is the language of lawyers and bureaucrats who are terrified of triggering the obligations of the **Genocide Convention**. If they just said "genocide," then by their own rules, they might have to actually stop it. They might have to send help. They might have to spend money or risk looking bad.

But "hallmarks"? That is safe. That is like saying a car has the "hallmarks" of a crash after it has been flattened by a train. It implies that maybe, just maybe, it isn't a crash. Maybe it's just a very aggressive parking job. It gives them wiggle room. It lets them frown deeply and shake their heads without ever lifting a finger to help the people screaming for their lives.

The report highlights the battle for El-Fasher, a city that was supposed to be a safe place—the last holdout for many civilians in **North Darfur**. But the RSF moved in, and the horror stories started coming out. We are talking about attacks on civilians that are so organized, so systematic, that you have to be willfully blind not to see the pattern. But the world is very good at being willfully blind, especially when the victims are in Africa.

Think about the absurdity of this theater. On one side, you have the **Rapid Support Forces**. They are armed, dangerous, and seem to have no limits on their cruelty. On the other side, you have the United Nations holding a piece of paper. The fighters have guns; the diplomats have adjectives. Who do you think is winning this fight?

It is tragic, but it is also a dark comedy. The international community acts like a confused substitute teacher who has lost control of the classroom. They stand at the front of the room yelling, "Stop it!" while the kids set the desks on fire. They issue statements. They hold meetings. They release reports with serious titles. And meanwhile, the actual human beings in Sudan are left to fend for themselves.

This is the sophisticated cynicism of modern politics. We have built a global system that is an expert at describing horror but totally useless at stopping it. We have turned "never again" into "well, maybe one more time." The people writing these reports know exactly what is happening. They are smart people. They know that "hallmarks of genocide" basically means "genocide that we are going to ignore for a few more months."

Why do they do it? Because admitting the truth requires action. If you admit the house is on fire, you have to grab a hose. If you just say it has the "hallmarks of fire," you can go back to your lunch and form a committee to discuss the nature of smoke. It is a delay tactic. It is a way to look busy while doing absolutely nothing of value.

So, here we are. The report is out. It will make headlines for a day or two. People will share it on social media with sad emojis. Politicians will say they are "deeply concerned." And then? Then the news cycle will move on. We will go back to talking about an election in the West or the price of gas.

The file on Sudan will go into a cabinet next to the files on Rwanda and Bosnia, gathering dust. And somewhere in a nice office in Geneva or New York, a bureaucrat will pat themselves on the back for a job well done. They identified the "hallmarks." They named the beast. They just forgot to mention that the beast is still eating people, and their piece of paper is not going to save a single soul.

***

### References & Fact-Check * **Original Event**: The UN's Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for the Sudan released a report urging the deployment of an independent force to protect civilians. * **Key Location**: The report specifically cites attacks in **El-Fasher**, North Darfur, during the ongoing conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). * **Primary Source**: [BBC News: Sudan atrocities are 'hallmarks of genocide', UN says](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cpqw74d81jqo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss)