UK sanctions Sudan’s RSF commanders over atrocities amid ongoing conflict
The sanctions target Abdul Rahim Hamdan Dagalo, the RSF Deputy Leader and brother of RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, along with three other commanders suspected of participation in these crimes.
The United Kingdom has sanctioned senior commanders of Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) over alleged involvement in mass killings, systematic sexual violence, and deliberate attacks on civilians, as the country’s war continues to displace millions.
The sanctions target Abdul Rahim Hamdan Dagalo, the RSF Deputy Leader and brother of RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, along with three other commanders suspected of participation in these crimes.
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The British government said the individuals now face asset freezes and travel bans.
"The atrocities taking place in Sudan are so horrific they scar the conscience of the world,” UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said. “Today's sanctions against RSF commanders strike directly at those with blood on their hands.”
In addition to the sanctions, the UK pledged a further £21 million (Sh3.6 billion) to provide food, shelter, health services, and protection for women and children in some of the hardest-to-reach areas of Sudan.
The move follows an international plan proposed earlier in November by the United States, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia, which aimed for a three-month truce followed by peace talks.
The RSF initially accepted the plan but later launched drone attacks on army-held territory, further escalating the conflict.
The war, which erupted in April 2023 between the Sudanese army and the RSF, has forced millions of people to flee their homes, creating a humanitarian crisis.
Recently, the US Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) imposed sanctions on four individuals and four entities for their alleged roles in fueling the civil war in Sudan.
In a statement, OFAC said the four are part of a transnational network, primarily composed of Colombian nationals and companies, that recruits former Colombian military personnel and trains soldiers, including children, to fight for the RSF.
"Since September 2024, hundreds of former Colombian military personnel have travelled to Sudan to fight alongside the RSF. These Colombians provide the RSF with tactical and technical expertise, serving as infantry and artillerymen, drone pilots, vehicle operators, and instructors, with some even training children to fight in the RSF," OFAC revealed.
The eight include: Alvaro Andres Quijano Becerra (Quijano), a dual Colombian-Italian national, retired Colombian military officer and former associate of the Colombia-based Norte del Valle Cartel who is currently based in the United Arab Emirates.
According to the US, the man plays a central role in recruiting and deploying former Colombian military personnel to Sudan with the support of a network of associates and companies that specialise in recruiting fighters and facilitating the movement of funds related to their deployment.
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