KHARTOUM – The United States Treasury Department recently slapped sanctions on a Sudanese paramilitary leader for allegedly perpetrating egregious human rights violations in West Darfur.
Abdel Rahman Juma Barkalla, commander of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), is pointed out in a Treasury statement for spearheading activities rooted in ethnic violence, reportedly involving civilian targeting and conflict-related sexual assault.
Just days prior, the United Nations Security Council imposed sanctions on Barkalla amid the ongoing strife between the Sudan Armed Forces and the RSF, a conflict igniting in April 2023 that has tragically resulted in the death of thousands and forced countless others to flee their homes.
This power struggle for Sudan’s control follows the ousting of Omar al-Bashir by the military amid a civilian uprising in 2019, causing severe instability.
“This move reinforces our resolve to hold accountable those instigating brutal aggression against Sudan’s vulnerable communities,” declared Bradley Smith, Treasury’s acting under-secretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, part of his remarks.
Smith emphasized that the United States remains committed to supporting efforts aimed at ending the conflict. He urged both factions to engage in peace negotiations and safeguard the fundamental rights of all Sudanese civilians.
Ethnically motivated violence has drawn significant global concern, with indications that the incoming US administration might pursue further actions against those involved. The military-led transitional council in Sudan is yet to fully transition to civilian governance.
The U.N. estimates that around 25 million Sudanese, approximately half of the nation’s populace, are in desperate need of assistance. The dire conditions in displacement camps have given way to widespread famine, with millions uprooted, many seeking refuge abroad.
In the broader regional context, Sudan finds itself in a geopolitical wrangle over the Nile Basin waterways, forming an alliance with Egypt against Ethiopia. Such instability in the Horn of Africa is drawing the attention of international economic and military heavyweights, including members from the Arab League.
Source: AXADLETM
