The US Treasury Department says on Wednesday that it was introducing sanctions on Sudan’s Rapid Support Force commanders, Yaqoub Jibril, and Othman Hamed for ostensibly prosecuting the conflict in the country and becoming ”peace spoilers”.
In a statement on its website on Wednesday, the treasury department points out that the two commanders had directed attacks by the RSF on North Darfur, endangering the lives of civilians.
”Gibril is being designated, pursuant to E.O. 14098, for being a foreign person who is or has been a leader, official, senior executive officer, or member of the board of directors of the RSF, an entity that has, or whose members have, engaged in actions or policies that threaten the peace, security, or stability of Sudan relating to the tenure of such leader, official, senior executive officer, or member of the board of directors” the statement indicates.
Hamid is being sanctioned by virtue of his position as ”a leader, official, senior executive officer, or member of the board of directors of the RSF, an entity that has, or whose members have, engaged in actions or policies that threaten the peace, security, or stability of Sudan relating to the tenure of such leader, official, senior executive officer, or member of the board of directors”.
As a result all property and interests linked to the pair in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked. In addition, financial institutions and other parties engaged in transactions or activities with the sanctioned pair may expose themselves to sanctions or be subject to an enforcement action, the treasury department statement warns. ”The prohibitions include the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any designated person, or the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services from any such person” it says. RSF fighters were blamed for the death of scores of civilians in a month long incrusion into North Darfur. Skirmishes in Al-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur between the soldiers of the Sudanese Armed Forces and RSF fighters had left over one million people homeless and in desperate need of humanitarian aid.
The conflict in Sudan began in April 2023 with SAF regulars loyal to junta leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan engaged RSF elements under the leadership of General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo.
Since then tens of thousands of the civilians have been killed and over 2 million displaced in and out of the country.
WN/as/APA