US Announces Initial Sanctions Against Sudanese War Perpetrators

Illustration of conflict in Sudan (Photo via Twitter striker)

JAKARTA - The United States on Thursday, June 1, announced an initial wave of sanctions against war actors in Sudan following the failure of talks between the Sudanese military and its opponents, the paramilitary forces. The sanctions were announced less than a month after President Joe Biden announced the expansion of the authorities that opened the door for the US to impose sanctions on entities in Sudan. The sanctions are also a warning to the warring parties there. "Today, we are following up by imposing economic sanctions, visa restrictions on actors that make violence continue, and releasing updated Business Recommendations for Sudan," US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said in a statement quoted by Anadolu via Antara, Friday, June 2. "The war that broke out in Sudan between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces is a tragedy that has sacrificed many lives, it must end," Sullivan added. The penalties imposed include economic sanctions and visas, and are in place in response to mandatory violations committed by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and paramilitary groups of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) during negotiations brokered by the US and Saudi Arabia in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The seven-day ceasefire mediated by Saudi Arabia and the US between the two sides ended on Monday. The two warring sides agreed to extend the agreement for another five days, but peace talks failed on Wednesday when SAF announced its resignation. SAF said RSF failed to implement "any treaty provisions and continued violations of the ceasefire." The decision comes as fierce fighting broke out between the military and RSF soldiers in the capital Khartoum and the capital of North Kordofan state, El-Obaid. The Treasury Department separately sanctioned four Sudanese companies suspected of assisting SAF and RSF. Among them include the Defense Industry System (DIS), Sudanese military company with an estimated revenue of US$2 billion (around Rp29.9 trillion), and Sudan Master Technology, a weapons company with shares in several DIS subsidiaries. In addition, there are Al Junaidi Multi Activities, a holding company linked to RSF Commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo and his brother, RSF Deputy Commander Abdul Rahim Dagalo; and Tradive General Trading, a company controlled by Major RSF Algoney Hamdan Dagalo, also on the sanctions list. "Through sanctions, we cut key finances flowing either for Sudan's Rapid Support Forces or Armed Forces, seizing the resources needed to pay the army, re-armed, re-supplying, and fighting in Sudan," US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said in a statement. Departemen Negara, Perkeharaan, Perdagangan, dan Perburuan, serta Badan Pembangunan Internasional AS mengeluarkan rekomendasi usaha bersama yang memergingatkan perusahaan-perusahaan AS tentang meningkatnya risiko menjalankan bisnis di Sudan. Rekomendasi itu mengingatkan secara eksplisit bahaya perdagangan di sektor pertambangan, dan bisnis dengan RSF dan SAF.