US designates Sudan’s notorious former intelligence chief Salah Gosh

State Department claims credible evidence that the Sudanese strongman was involved in human rights breaches

Salah Abdallah Mohammed Salih, widely known as Salih Ghosh, headed Sudan's feared National Intelligence and Security Service. AFP 

The US administration on Wednesday sanctioned former Sudanese intelligence chief Salah Gosh, saying it had evidence that he had committed torture.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced the public designation of Mr Gosh, which bars him and his family from travelling to America.

“Today, the United States designated Salah Abdalla Mohamed Mohamed Salih, known as Salah Gosh, the former director general of Sudan’s National Intelligence and Security Services …due to his involvement in gross violations of human rights," Mr Pompeo said.

"Specifically, the department has credible information that Salah Gosh was involved in torture during his tenure."

Mr Gosh's spouse, Awatif Mohamed, and daughter, Shima Mohamed, were listed in the same order.

He was a close ally of ousted Sudanese president Omar Al Bashir.

“I join the Sudanese people in their call for a transitional government that is truly civilian-led and fundamentally different than the Bashir regime, especially as it relates to its human rights record and abuses implemented by Gosh and other officials,” Mr Pompeo tweeted.

Mr Gosh, 63, facing public pressure, had to resign his position after the military coup that ousted Omar Al Bashir in April.

He served for almost four decades in Sudan’s intelligence services, where he was accused of using oppressive tactics and torture.

He was born in the old city of Nuri and was reportedly an early member of the Muslim Brotherhood.

Over the years Mr Gosh built a powerful network with regional intelligence services and was known to be close to late Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman.

His designation is regarded as part of the US campaign to pressure Sudan to seek civilian transition, and block attempts that would reverse it.

Undersecretary of State for political affairs, David Hale, visited Khartoum last week where he met representatives from the Transitional Military Council and Forces for Freedom and Change, along with members of society.

Mr Hale stressed “the need for swift formation of a civilian-led transitional government in line with the recently agreed political and constitutional documents, which the United States supports".