Congress Seeks Clarification from Trump Administration on Al-Goni Dagalo’s Visit to Washington

American newspapers reported that members of Congress have requested official explanations from President Donald Trump’s administration regarding the visit of Rapid Support Forces (RSF) leader Al-Goni Hamdan Dagalo to Washington last October, despite the U.S. State Department’s official designation of these forces as responsible for committing genocide during Sudan’s ongoing conflict.

According to Politico, two Democratic senators claimed that militia members roamed freely in downtown Washington in late October. Video footage circulated at the time showing Al-Goni and several RSF leaders at a hotel in the U.S. capital.

Senator Jeanne Shaheen, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Senator Cory Booker called on Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to provide clarifications regarding the circumstances of the visit.

The newspaper reported that Al-Goni arrived in Washington in mid-October to participate in a meeting with representatives of the “International Quartet” (Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and the United States) to discuss ways to achieve stability in Sudan. However, according to the letter, he remained in the capital after the conclusion of the Quartet meeting.

In two separate letters to the three officials, the senators noted that Al-Goni was seen “socializing at the Waldorf Astoria, one of Washington’s most luxurious hotels, and walking the streets of the capital” during the subsequent period of the month.

Lawmakers requested answers regarding how Al-Goni was able to stay in the United States, whether any exemptions were granted to him, and whether foreign governments had facilitated his travel in any way.

Al-Goni Dagalo serves as the financial brain of the Rapid Support Forces militia and previously held the position of personal secretary to its commander, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemeidti). He is considered one of the most influential officers within the family-led force.