London Targets Sudan Commanders

The United Kingdom imposed sanctions on 15 Sudanese military and security figures on Monday.

The measures target commanders from the Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese Armed Forces. Officials accused them of war crimes during the fall of el-Fasher. The penalties include travel bans and asset freezes.

Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband stated that perpetrators of crimes against humanity must face accountability. He added that external support for the warring parties must end. The government cited UK-funded reporting from the Centre for Information Resilience as the basis for the decision. That report documented systematic starvation and conflict-related sexual violence.

The sanctions list includes RSF colonel Hussein Abu Jalak. He is linked to atrocities during the el-Fasher siege. The list also names Al-Nour Ahmed Adam, known as al-Qubba. Investigators identified his prominent role in besieging and attacking the city. The Foreign Office said the actions aim to ensure global awareness of the events in el-Fasher.

London allocated five million pounds, or 6.6 million dollars, to support survivors of sexual violence. The country also committed another ten million pounds, or 13.3 million dollars, in humanitarian aid. Miliband described the conflict as a humanitarian catastrophe. He noted that rape and starvation remain weaponized against the Sudanese population one year after the fall of el-Fasher.

The city became a focal point of the war last year. Civilians faced a prolonged siege and reported mass killings. Widespread sexual violence and attacks on hospitals also occurred. Amnesty International stated that tens of thousands of civilians have been killed since the war began in April 2023. The organization reported that 14 million people have been displaced.