US Legislators Call for Imposing Sanctions on Sudanese Military Junta

The US Capitol in Washington. (AFP)
The US Capitol in Washington. (AFP)
TT

US Legislators Call for Imposing Sanctions on Sudanese Military Junta

The US Capitol in Washington. (AFP)
The US Capitol in Washington. (AFP)

Congress legislators have criticized the President of the Transitional Sovereignty Council and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Gen. Abdul-Fattah Al-Burhan, and head of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) Mohamed Hamdan Daglo “Hemetti” over the fierce clashes in Sudan.

US Senator Bob Menendez, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and senior Republican in the Committee Jim Risch called for imposing sanctions on military leaders implicated in the recent clashes.

“Unfortunately, the international community and regional actors fell prey, again, to trusting junta Generals Burhan and Hemetti when they said they would hand power to civilians,” according to Risch.

“Playing along with their games has divided the pro-democracy movement and further weakened the hand of civilians. It is clear we need a fundamental shift in US diplomacy,” he said.

“Last year, Congress passed a joint resolution clearly stating that the military junta was the major obstacle to Sudanese democracy and that the Biden Administration needed to act to hold it accountable for human rights abuses, corruption,” Risch added.

“To date, this has not happened. Instead, the international community gave these selfish and brutal leaders more time to run out the clock.”

Risch added that “regardless of who started the current fighting, the Biden Administration must take immediate steps to sanction Generals Burhan and Hemetti, and other senior security officials, and push the international community to do the same.”

For his part, Menendez pressed the Administration “to impose targeted sanctions on all those who subvert the transitional process or are implicated in human rights abuses,” including senior members of the Sudanese junta.

He called on the US to “lead by example”.

“I encourage international partners to join us in affirming our dedication to the cause of freedom and advancing democratic values worldwide.”

Moreover, US Senator Chris Coons released a statement in the wake of the clashes saying, “Ultimately, the only way to achieve peace and stability in Sudan is through meaningful political discussion and the return of a civilian-led transition that respects the rights and aspirations of the Sudanese people.”

“Continued fighting risks dragging the country back into civil war and threatens the stability not only of Sudan but the entire region,” he warned.



US Defers Removal of Some Lebanese, Citing Israel-Hezbollah Tensions

Smoke billows from a site targeted by Lebanon's Hezbollah, along the northern Israeli border with Lebanon on July 25, 2024, amid ongoing cross-border clashes between Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters. (AFP)
Smoke billows from a site targeted by Lebanon's Hezbollah, along the northern Israeli border with Lebanon on July 25, 2024, amid ongoing cross-border clashes between Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters. (AFP)
TT

US Defers Removal of Some Lebanese, Citing Israel-Hezbollah Tensions

Smoke billows from a site targeted by Lebanon's Hezbollah, along the northern Israeli border with Lebanon on July 25, 2024, amid ongoing cross-border clashes between Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters. (AFP)
Smoke billows from a site targeted by Lebanon's Hezbollah, along the northern Israeli border with Lebanon on July 25, 2024, amid ongoing cross-border clashes between Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters. (AFP)

The United States is deferring the removal of certain Lebanese citizens from the country, President Joe Biden said on Friday, citing humanitarian conditions in southern Lebanon amid tensions between Israel and Hezbollah.

The deferred designation, which lasts 18 months, allows Lebanese citizens to remain in the country with the right to work, according to a memorandum Biden sent to the Department of Homeland Security.

"Humanitarian conditions in southern Lebanon have significantly deteriorated due to tensions between Hezbollah and Israel," Biden said in the memo.

"While I remain focused on de-escalating the situation and improving humanitarian conditions, many civilians remain in danger; therefore, I am directing the deferral of removal of certain Lebanese nationals who are present in the United States."

Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah have been trading fire since Hezbollah announced a "support front" with Palestinians shortly after its ally Hamas attacked southern Israeli border communities on Oct. 7, triggering Israel's military assault in Gaza.

The fighting in Lebanon has killed more than 100 civilians and more than 300 Hezbollah fighters, according to a Reuters tally, and led to levels of destruction in Lebanese border towns and villages not seen since the 2006 Israel-Lebanon war.

On the Israeli side, 10 Israeli civilians, a foreign agricultural worker and 20 Israeli soldiers have been killed. Tens of thousands have been evacuated from both sides of the border.