By Daphne Psaledakis, David Lewis and Nafisa Eltahir WASHINGTON/NAIROBI/CAIRO (Reuters) -The United States determined on Tuesday that members of Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and allied militias committed genocide in Sudan and imposed sanctions on the group's leader over a conflict that has killed tens of thousands of people and driven millions from their homes.

The US government has officially declared that genocide is being committed in Sudan by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and its allied militias, marking a significant shift in US policy. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that the RSF has engaged in systematic ethnic killings,

The U.S. has imposed sanctions on the leader of Sudan’s military in a devastating war that is spreading famine in that country

The move comes over a week after the Biden administration imposed sanctions on Rapid Support Forces leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo.

Sudan's army chief has ordered an investigation into allegations that his troops carried out widespread atrocities after recapturing the capital of Gezira state from their paramilitary rivals. Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan's move comes after widespread concern that civilians - including foreign nationals - were killed after the seizure of Wad Madani.

The Biden administration takes action against Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, accusing Sudan’s leaders of “blatant disregard of civilian lives” amid the civil war.