US imposes sanctions on Sudan’s army chief Burhan over civilian attacks and prolonging civil war, following similar measures against RSF commander Dagalo. The conflict has displaced millions and sparked humanitarian crisis.
The United States has imposed sanctions on Sudan’s army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, citing his role in prolonging the devastating civil war that has killed thousands and displaced millions. This move comes one week after similar sanctions were placed on his rival, Rapid Support Forces (RSF) commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo.
The US Treasury Department accused Burhan’s forces of numerous violations, including indiscriminate bombing of civilian infrastructure, attacks on schools and hospitals, and extrajudicial killings. When asked about potential sanctions earlier, Burhan remained defiant, stating “We welcome any sanctions for serving this country.”
The conflict, which erupted in April 2023 after a failed power-sharing arrangement, has pushed half of Sudan’s population into hunger. Both military leaders had previously cooperated in a 2021 coup that removed civilian leadership before their alliance collapsed.
Additional sanctions were imposed on a Sudanese-Ukrainian national and a Hong Kong-based company for supplying weapons to the army. The sanctions freeze US assets and generally prohibit Americans from conducting business with the designated individuals, though humanitarian assistance remains permitted.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed regret over Washington’s inability to end the fighting, despite some improvements in humanitarian aid access. The conflict continues to escalate, with the army recently capturing the strategic city of Wad Madani and vowing to retake the capital, Khartoum.
Sudan’s foreign ministry criticized the sanctions, claiming they “express nothing but confusion and a weak sense of justice” while accusing Washington of defending RSF’s alleged genocide.
