On Wednesday, the United States placed new sanctions on three Sudanese firms accused of being directly connected to the warring forces in Sudan as the deadly battle in the northeast African country continues to rage.
The army, led by Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan, and the Rapid Support Forces, or RSF, a powerful paramilitary group under Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, have been fighting to control Sudan since April. Long-standing tensions erupted into street battles in the capital and other areas, including the western Darfur region.
US Imposes Sanctions on Three Sudanese Companies
TOPSHOT - Sudanese army soldiers patrol in Gedaref in eastern Sudan, on December 18, 2023. Paramilitary forces established a base on December 17, 2023 in the formerly safe city of Wad Madani in war-torn Sudan, an AFP correspondent reported, sending thousands fleeing, many of them already displaced.
The US Treasury Department imposed sanctions that prohibited all property and entities in the US belonging to Alkhaleej Bank Co Ltd, Zadna International Co for Development Ltd, and Al-Fakher Advanced Works Co. Ltd.
The department said in a news release that Alkhaleej and Al-Fakher were directly connected to the RSF, with Al-Fakher playing a major role in the paramilitary's lucrative gold export business. According to the Treasury Department, Zadna is run by the army that helps finance a military-run weapons company that already has been sanctioned by the US.
Washington has been putting pressure on Sudan's leaders and companies to put an end to the conflict, and this Wednesday's sanctions are the latest it has put in place. High-profile individuals targeted include former Foreign Minister Ali Karti and a brother of Dagalo.
The United Nations reported that at least 12,000 people had died in the conflict, although local medical groups argued that the actual death toll is far higher. According to the UN migration agency, the conflict has displaced over 10.7 million people.
During the last two months, the RSF has appeared to take the upper hand in the conflict, with its troops moving north and east throughout Sudan's central belt.
Regional allies in Africa, Saudi Arabia, and the US have attempted to mediate and resolve the conflict by facilitating unsuccessful and indirect negotiations between the warring sides. Burhan and Dagalo have not yet had a face-to-face meeting since the conflict began.
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Biden's Sanctions, Warnings
The sanctions are the first punitive measures imposed under an executive order signed by US President Joe Biden in May. They target Sudan's largest defense company, Defence Industries System, which the Treasury estimates $2 billion in revenue and produces weapons and other equipment for Sudan's army.
Arms company Giad, known as Sudan Master Technology, was also targeted.
On the RSF side, Washington placed sanctions on Algunade, claiming it was under the control of RSF Commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo and his brother and was involved in gold mining. Tradive General Trading LLC also claimed it was a front company owned by another brother and procured vehicles for the RSF.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said visa restrictions were effective on individuals in Sudan, including leaders from the government of Omar al-Bashir and officials from the army and RSF. Those hit with visa restrictions were not named.
Related Article: Roughly Eight Million Displaced by Sudan War
