US imposes sanctions on Sudanese paramilitary commander

By Daphne Psaledakis

The U.S. on Tuesday imposed sanctions on a commander of Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, accusing him of being involved in human rights abuses in West Darfur, as Washington increases pressure over the war in the African nation.

The U.S. Treasury Department in a statement said Abdel Rahman Juma Barkalla led the RSF's campaign in West Darfur, which the department said was marked by credible claims of serious human rights abuses, including the targeting of civilians, conflict-related sexual violence and ethnically-motivated violence.

The action follows sanctions imposed on Barkalla by a United Nations Security Council committee last week and marks the latest action by Washington over the war in Sudan, which erupted in April 2023 from a power struggle between the Sudanese army and RSF ahead of a planned transition to civilian rule.

"Today's action underscores our commitment to hold accountable those who seek to facilitate these horrific acts of violence against vulnerable civilian populations in Sudan," Bradley Smith, Treasury's acting under secretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, said in the statement.

"The United States remains focused on supporting an end to this conflict and calls on both sides to participate in peace talks and ensure the basic human rights of all Sudanese civilians," Smith said.

The war in Sudan has produced waves of ethnically-driven violence blamed largely on the RSF. The RSF denies harming civilians and attributes the activity to rogue elements.

The U.N. says nearly 25 million people - half of Sudan's population - need aid. Famine has taken hold in displacement camps, 11 million people have fled their homes and nearly three million of those people have left for other countries.