The United States government has imposed sanctions on General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the head of Sudan’s army and de facto president, in response to his role in the ongoing civil war that has ravaged the country.
The US Treasury Department accused Burhan of “destabilizing Sudan” and undermining efforts toward a democratic transition, while also holding him responsible for lethal attacks on civilians, including the destruction of schools, markets, and hospitals.
The sanctions, announced on January 17, 2025, follow reports of the killing of civilians in Wad Madani, a city in central Sudan recently retaken by the Sudanese army after nearly a year of control by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
The city is strategically important, linking key supply routes and serving as the closest major town to the capital, Khartoum. Over the course of the 21-month civil war, tens of thousands have been killed, and more than 12 million people have been displaced, pushing Sudan to the brink of famine.
The US has accused Burhan’s army of routinely denying humanitarian access to war-torn regions, using food deprivation as a weapon of war. Secretary of State Antony Blinken previously denounced the army for committing war crimes during the first year of the conflict.
Last week, the US also imposed sanctions on Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, the leader of the RSF, accusing his forces of committing genocide during the war. The RSF and Sudanese army have been locked in a brutal power struggle, with civilians often caught in the crossfire.
Burhan’s forces have faced increasing scrutiny over the past weeks following reports of retaliatory attacks against civilians in the Gezira region. Rights groups claim the army has gone on a violent rampage, including in the village of Camp Taiba, where at least 13 people were reportedly killed.
The United Nations’ humanitarian chief for Sudan, Clementine Nkweta-Salami, has expressed deep concern over the alleged targeting of civilians based on their ethnicity or perceived affiliation.
In response to the growing allegations, Burhan announced the establishment of an investigative committee to probe the killings in Camp Taiba, with a report due within a week.
However, the investigation’s scope and whether it will extend to other incidents, such as the reported killing of South Sudanese nationals, remain unclear.
South Sudan has summoned Sudan’s ambassador to express its outrage over the deaths of its citizens, who were reportedly non-combatants. Tensions between the two nations have also escalated, with accusations that the RSF has hired South Sudanese fighters as mercenaries.
The US sanctions represent a significant diplomatic move, signaling Washington’s continued pressure on Sudan’s military leadership to halt the violence and ensure accountability for the deaths of civilians in the conflict.
