UK sanctions 15 Sudanese commanders over el-Fasher war crimes
Britain sanctioned 15 RSF and Sudanese Armed Forces figures over war crimes in el-Fasher, with travel bans, asset freezes and new survivor and aid funding.
The story in focus
Al Jazeera reports the United Kingdom sanctioned 15 Sudanese commanders, militia leaders and security officials from the Rapid Support Forces and Sudanese Armed Forces over war crimes during the fall of el-Fasher, including sexual violence, torture and attacks on civilians, imposing travel bans and asset freezes.
- The UK sanctioned 15 Sudanese military commanders, militia leaders and security officials from both the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces.
- Measures include travel bans and asset freezes over sexual violence, torture and attacks on civilians during el-Fasher's fall.
- Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband announced the sanctions on Monday, a year after the city fell.
- The UK allocated 5 million pounds for survivors of sexual violence and 10 million pounds in humanitarian aid.
- The announcement followed UK-funded reporting by the Centre for Information Resilience.
Sanctions and targets
Al Jazeera reported that the United Kingdom sanctioned 15 Sudanese military commanders, militia leaders and security officials drawn from both sides of the civil war—the Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese Armed Forces. The UK Foreign Office said the measures, including travel bans and asset freezes, target sexual violence, torture and attacks on civilians during the fall of the city of el-Fasher.
The Foreign Office named Hussein Abu Jalak, an RSF colonel linked to atrocities during the siege, and Al-Nour Ahmed Adam, known as al-Qubba, identified as present and prominent in besieging and attacking the city, Al Jazeera reported.
Announcement and funding
UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband announced the measures on Monday, a year after the city's fall, saying those who committed crimes against humanity must be held accountable and that external backing for the warring parties must stop, according to Al Jazeera.
The Foreign Office said the announcement followed UK-funded reporting by the Centre for Information Resilience on systematic starvation and conflict-related sexual violence. The UK allocated 5 million pounds ($6.6m) to support survivors of sexual violence and 10 million pounds ($13.3m) in humanitarian aid.
Context of the war
El-Fasher became a focal point of Sudan's war, with civilians facing a prolonged siege, reported mass killings, widespread sexual violence and attacks on hospitals, Al Jazeera reported. Citing Amnesty International, it said tens of thousands of civilians have been killed and 14 million displaced since the war began in April 2023.
What is el-Fasher's significance in Sudan's war?
According to Al Jazeera, el-Fasher became a focal point of Sudan's war, with civilians facing a prolonged siege, mass killings, widespread sexual violence and attacks on hospitals before the city fell a year before the sanctions.
Sources & further reading
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