THE UNITED Kingdom has placed sanctions on top leaders of Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF), accusing them of being involved in large-scale killings, sexual violence, and targeting civilians. Among those sanctioned is Abdul Rahim Hamdan Dagalo, who is the deputy leader of the RSF and the brother of Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, also known as Hemedti.
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| Reuters |
Other senior officers who are believed to have played major roles in these abuses have also been targeted. The UK government said that their assets will be frozen and they will not be allowed to travel.
British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper criticized the ongoing conflict in Sudan, calling it "horrific," and stated that the sanctions are aimed directly at those who are responsible for the violence.
The UK has also promised an extra £21 million to help provide food, shelter, medical aid, and protection for women and children in areas that are hard to reach due to the war.
This decision comes after a plan proposed in November by the United States, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia for a three-month pause in fighting, followed by organized peace talks.
Although the RSF first agreed to this plan, they later carried out several drone attacks on a Sudanese army position, which raised questions about their willingness to engage in peace talks.
The war in Sudan, which began in April 2023 between the national army and the RSF, has displaced millions of people and caused one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world.
Aid organizations keep warning that the situation is getting worse quickly as fighting spreads to new areas.