The US Department of the Treasury has announced sanctions on the deputy leader of Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), Abdelrahim Dagalo, over human rights abuses in Darfur.
This is the first reaction from the US to the ongoing war in Sudan.
The Treasury said Wednesday that the sanctions were imposed on Dagalo “for his connection to the RSF, whose members have committed human rights abuses against civilians in Sudan, to include conflict-related sexual violence and killings based on ethnicity.”
The sanctions include prohibiting any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services to Dagalo, who is the brother of RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti.
Moreover, the designation freezes any property or interests Dagalo has in the US.
“The Department of State is imposing visa restrictions on RSF General and West Darfur Sector Commander, Abdul Rahman Juma, for his involvement in a gross violation of human rights,” it said.
“We will act to promote accountability for those responsible for atrocities and to pursue justice for the victims,” according to the State Department.
“We will not hesitate to use the tools at our disposal to hinder the ability of the RSF and Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) to further prolong this war,” said US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
