A former Sudanese official, two corporations, one of which is based in Russia, and others have been singled out by fresh sanctions the US has issued in reaction to the growing turmoil in Sudan. This action takes place as Sudan struggles to deal with a protracted conflict that has resulted in thousands of fatalities and millions of population displacements.
The penalties, which were made public on Thursday, are a part of a number of actions taken by the American government in response to the ongoing violence, which started in mid-April. Plans for a political transition and the incorporation of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) into the Sudanese army are at the centre of the conflict. Even now, four years after the long-time tyrant Omar al-Bashir was overthrown in a popular revolt, the fighting has continued for months.
Brian Nelson, the Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence at the U.S. Treasury Department, stated, “Today’s action holds accountable those who have undercut efforts to find a peaceful, democratic solution in Sudan. We will continue to target actors perpetuating this conflict for personal gain.”
Among the individuals targeted by the sanctions is Ali Karti, who served as Sudan’s foreign minister during Bashir’s regime and later assumed leadership of the Sudanese Islamic Movement following Bashir’s ousting in 2019. Karti is a prominent figure among loyalists and veterans of Bashir’s Islamist rule, many of whom have sought to protect their interests and regain influence since the 2021 coup by the army and RSF.
The sanctions also extend to GSK Advance Company, a Sudan-based firm that the Treasury Department alleges has been used as a procurement channel for the RSF. GSK Advance Company is said to have collaborated with Russia-based military supply company Aviatrade, which was also targeted by the sanctions. The Treasury Department alleges that these companies facilitated the procurement of parts, supplies, and training for drones that had been previously purchased by the RSF.
The imposition of these sanctions underscores the international community’s concerns about the protracted conflict in Sudan and its impact on the civilian population.