Targeting the Titans: Sanctions Against Sudan’s Military Chief and Arms Minstrels

The United States has today imposed sanctions on Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, the chief of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), along with one enterprise and an individual associated with arms procurement.

In December 2023, I assessed that members of the SAF had perpetrated war crimes. Since that time, troops of the SAF, under Al-Burhan’s command, have persisted in committing violations, including assaulting civilians and civilian infrastructures, along with executing non-combatants. The SAF has breached international humanitarian regulations and disregarded commitments made in the 2023 “Jeddah Declaration of Commitment to Protect the Civilians of Sudan.” The SAF’s tactic of employing food shortages as a war method and its intentional hindrance of the smooth delivery of urgent humanitarian assistance to millions of vulnerable Sudanese has exacerbated the globe’s largest humanitarian catastrophe, leaving over 25 million Sudanese confronted with severe food insecurity and more than 600,000 suffering from famine.

Moreover, Al-Burhan has hindered peace efforts, including his refusal to engage in international ceasefire discussions in Switzerland in August 2024. Al-Burhan has consistently blocked the political progression toward a civilian government.

This measure follows the designation of the commander of the Rapid Support Forces, Mohammad Hamdan Daglo Mousa, known as Hemedti, on January 7, 2025. Collectively, these sanctions highlight the U.S. stance that neither individual is suitable to lead a future, peaceful Sudan. The United States is steadfast in its commitment to holding accountable those responsible for atrocities in Sudan and aiding in a democratic, civilian transition.

The actions of the Department of the Treasury were undertaken pursuant to Executive Order 14098, “Imposing Sanctions on Certain Persons Destabilizing Sudan and Undermining the Goal of a Democratic Transition,” as modified. For further details regarding today’s action, refer to Treasury’s press release.