USA imposes sanctions on Sudan’s General Burhan amid ongoing civil war and atrocities

The United States has imposed sanctions on January 16 on General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the head of Sudan’s army and de facto President, accusing him of destabilizing the country, his decision to choose “war over good-faith negotiation and de-escalation,” and of undermining transition to democracy, the US Treasury Department said in a statement.

Burhan’s army has been heavily involved in the 21-month civil war, which has led to significant civilian suffering, including the deaths of tens of thousands and the displacement of over 12 million people. The sanctions follow recent reports of civilian deaths in the central city of Wad Madani, although these incidents were not directly mentioned in the US statement.

The conflict between Sudan’s army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, has led to widespread violence, with both sides accused of committing serious human rights violations.

Last week, Washington also slapped sanctions against the opposing Rapid Support Forces’ (RSF) leader Mohammad Hamdan Daglo, whom the White House accused of being behind a wave of renewed ethnic cleansing, rape, and systematic atrocities. The US has also sanctioned Dagalo’s RSF for its involvement in genocide during the conflict.

The US government alleges that Burhan’s forces have carried out lethal attacks on civilians, targeting vital infrastructure such as schools, markets, and hospitals, and using food deprivation as a weapon of war.

In a recent statement, outgoing US secretary of state Antony Blinken said “Taken together, these sanctions underscore the US view that neither man is fit to govern a future, peaceful Sudan.”

In addition to the military-led violence, civilian areas such as Gezira state have seen retaliatory attacks, with a rights group accusing Sudanese forces of killing at least 13 people in the village of Camp Taiba. The UN has expressed concern over these abuses, particularly regarding ethnic and affiliation-based attacks. South Sudan has also expressed alarm, reporting the deaths of its citizens, who were non-combatants, during the ongoing conflict. Despite his orders to investigate the allegations, Burhan has not commented on concerns raised by South Sudan regarding the broader scope of atrocities in Gezira.

The conflict has seen numerous atrocities from both sides, with disturbing videos circulating on social media showing the aftermath of violent incidents, including the deaths of civilians. The Sudanese army has condemned what it calls “individual violations” but has pledged to hold those responsible accountable. Meanwhile, the RSF has faced similar accusations of retaliatory violence, particularly after the defection of a key commander. As the war continues, both sides remain embroiled in a cycle of violence, with little sign of an end to the suffering of Sudan’s civilian population.