On Wednesday, the United States took decisive action by imposing sanctions on three companies intricately tied to the warring factions in Sudan, marking the latest move in a series of measures aimed at curbing the catastrophic nine-month conflict plaguing the nation.
The entities facing sanctions include Alkhaleej Bank and Al-Fakher Advanced Works, both under the control of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, along with Zadna International, under the jurisdiction of the Sudanese army, as outlined in an official statement from the U.S. Treasury Department.
The conflict erupted in April of the preceding year, unleashing havoc across vast expanses of the country. The toll has been grim, with thousands of civilians losing their lives, ominous warnings of famine, and the emergence of the world’s most extensive internal displacement crisis.
The Rapid Support Forces find themselves under severe scrutiny from the U.S., accused of engaging in an ethnic cleansing campaign in West Darfur. Allegations include their involvement in war crimes and crimes against humanity, casting a shadow over their actions.
Simultaneously, the Sudanese army, responsible for a widespread airstrike campaign, faces accusations of war crimes on the part of the U.S., further deepening the complexities of the situation.
“The conflict in Sudan continues, in part, due to key individuals and entities that help fund the continuation of the violence,” said Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E. Nelson.
Alkhaleej Bank is “an essential part of the RSF’s efforts to finance its operations” that received $50 million from the Sudanese Central Bank just before the war broke out, the Treasury Department said.
Holding company Alfakher was used to manage the RSF’s lucrative gold exports, its main source of financing to buy weapons.
Meanwhile, Zadna International was described as a “top revenue-earner” for the Sudanese army. The U.S. Treasury Department said it continued to provide funding and was used for money-laundering.
The sanctions were imposed under a U.S. executive order authorising sanctions on individuals who are destabilising Sudan and undermining the country’s democratic transition, the Treasury Department said.
Since the war began, the U.S. has sanctioned the deputy head of the RSF, other major businesses owned by both sides, and other entities.
