US issues sanctions against leader of Sudanese Armed Forces

Gen Abdel Fattah Al Burhan hit with sanctions for ‘destabilising’ Sudan

Army chief Gen Abdel Fattah Al Burhan's forces are accused of engaging 'in actions or policies that threaten the peace, security, or stability of Sudan'. AFP

The Biden administration has imposed sanctions on the leader of the Sudanese Armed Forces for his involvement in the country's civil war that has raged since April 2023.

The Treasury Department on Thursday accused the SAF of engaging “in actions or policies that threaten the peace, security, or stability of Sudan”.

In addition to Gen Al Burhan, the Treasury Department also issued sanctions against Ahmad Abdalla, who it alleges is an official in the Defence Industries System, the primary procurement arm of the SAF, and Portex Trade, a company based in Hong Kong controlled by Mr Abdalla.

Before the sanctions were announced on Thursday, in his farewell press conference US Secretary of State Antony Blinken accused the Sudanese Armed Forces of having committed war crimes and attacking civilians.

His comments came after the US last week announced sanctions on Gen Mohamed Dagalo, the leader of Sudan's rival paramilitary Rapid Support Forces that has been accused of committing genocide.

“The SAF has also committed war crimes and continues to target civilians,” Mr Blinken said. “It's obstructed the advancement of the peace process. It's refused to participate on numerous occasions in ceasefire talks that we've sought to convene and, together with the RSF, it's caused what is the world's worst humanitarian crisis that people are suffering through every day.”

Referring to Gen Al Burhan and Gen Dagalo In a later statement, Mr Blinken said “neither man is fit to govern a future, peaceful Sudan.”

The New York Times reported on Thursday that the SAF had used chemical weapons at least twice against the RSF. Quoting four senior US officials, the newspaper reported that the weapons had recently been used in remote parts of Sudan. The officials were worried the weapons could be used in Khartoum.

The State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Speaking among his soldiers earlier on Thursday, Gen Al Burhan was defiant about the prospect that he might be hit with such measures. “I hear there's going to be sanctions on the army leadership,” he said in comments broadcast on Al Jazeera television. “We welcome any sanctions for serving this country.”

Sudan angrily reacted to the US sanctions, describing them as immoral and lacking in fairness and objectivity.

“The decision is based on flimsy excuses that are not related to reality and makes light of the Sudanese people,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement. “The flawed decision cannot be justified by claims of neutrality because it practically supports those who commit genocide,” it added, alluding to accusations of war crimes and mass killings aimed at the RSF.

Tens of thousands of people have been killed in the civil war that broke out in April 2023. Fighting started in the capital Khartoum and neighbouring Omdurman, and spread to other parts of the country, including the western region of Darfur, which has experienced decades of violence. More than 11.5 million people have been displaced by the conflict, the UN Refugee Agency says.

It has become one of the worst humanitarian disasters in the world, with about half of the country’s population in need of assistance and protection.

Washington has long called for an end to the conflict and has repeatedly condemned the RSF and SAF – including determining that both had committed war crimes.

The US issued sanctions on Gen Dagalo after Washington determined his forces had committed genocide and attacked civilians.

In his farewell media conference, Mr Blinken expressed regret that President Joe Biden's administration had been unable to broker a Sudan ceasefire. “It is for me, yes, another real regret that when it comes to Sudan, we haven't been able on our watch to get to that day of success,” he said.

Hamza Hendawi contributed to this report from Cairo