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The United Nations Security Council has rolled out new sanctions targeting two top generals in Sudan accused of human rights abuses.
Let’s bring you up to speed: In April of 2023, a civil war erupted in Sudan between the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF), triggered by a power struggle following the 2019 ousting of dictator Omar al-Bashir. The conflict, rooted in disagreements over merging the RSF into the national army and controlling the country, quickly spiraled into widespread violence, forcing many to flee their homes and plunging the nation into a deep humanitarian crisis. Both sides have committed horrific acts, particularly in places like Darfur, where old ethnic tensions have led to the genocide of civilians.
The U.S. Treasury Department announced sanctions today against two Rapid Support Forces (RSF) commanders, Ali Yagoub Gibril and Osman Mohamed Hamid Mohamed, for their leadership role in the RSF's recent offensive in North Darfur.https://t.co/V4fFhMIyNy pic.twitter.com/QrBvz5awvE
— Sudan Tribune (@SudanTribune_EN) May 15, 2024

What’s going on now: The United Nations Security Council announced sanctions targeting RSF Major General Osman Mohamed Hamid Mohamed, head of RSF operations, and Major General Abdel Rahman Juma Barkalla, the RSF’s West Darfur commander. Both generals are accused of leading brutal military operations marked by ethnically motivated violence and grave human rights abuses.
The sanctions, which include an international travel ban and asset freeze, were imposed due to evidence that the generals directed attacks on civilians, particularly in the Darfur region. These actions mark the first UN sanctions linked to the current Sudanese conflict, underscoring international condemnation of the widespread atrocities and suffering inflicted on Sudan’s civilian population.

The war’s impact: The ongoing conflict between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has led to a devastating humanitarian crisis. Since the fighting began, estimates indicate that between 15,000 – 150,000 people have been killed. The violence has forced more than 12 million people to flee their homes, with over 1 million seeking refuge in neighboring countries and the rest displaced within Sudan, worsening an already dire situation in the region.