European Union Imposes New Sanctions on Six Individuals Due to War in Sudan

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The European Union countries have issued sanctions against six individuals, including military personnel from the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), as well as civilians allied with them. These individuals are accused of activities that undermine stability and the political transition in Sudan, where fighting continues between the Sudanese Armed Forces, the RSF, and their affiliated militias.

The European Council, which represents the EU member states, announced in a statement on Monday that the new sanctions target Abdul Rahman Juma Baraka Allah, a general leading the RSF in West Darfur. He is accused of responsibility for committing atrocities and other violations, inciting ethnically motivated killings, targeting human rights activists and defenders, sexual violence related to the conflict, and looting and burning communities. The sanctions also affect the financial advisor of the RSF and a prominent tribal leader from the Mahameed clan associated with the RSF in West Darfur.

From the Sudanese Armed Forces, the sanctions target the Director General of the Defense Industries System (DIS), which is already on the EU sanctions list, and the Commander of the Sudanese Air Force, Al-Tahir Mohammed Al-Awad Al-Amin, for their responsibility in indiscriminate aerial bombings of densely populated residential areas since the beginning of the conflict. Additionally, the sanctions include Ali Ahmed Karti Mohammed, the former Foreign Minister of Sudan under Omar al-Bashir’s government.

The sanctions include the freezing of assets and a ban on providing funds or economic resources to them, directly or indirectly. Furthermore, the sanctions impose a travel ban within the 27-member European Union.

It is noteworthy that on January 22, 2024, the EU had already imposed sanctions against six entities from the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF.

On April 12, 2024, the High Representative issued a statement on behalf of the EU marking one year of the war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF. The statement called for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, reminding the warring parties of their obligations under international humanitarian law to protect civilians. The EU reiterated its readiness to continue using its tools to help end the armed conflict, deter hindrance of humanitarian aid, and stop the culture of impunity.