Britain Targets 15 Sudan Figures Over El Fasher Crimes

Britain sanctioned 15 Sudanese military and security figures on Monday.

The measures cover commanders from both the Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese Armed Forces. The UK Foreign Office says they are accused of sexual violence, torture and attacks on civilians during the fall of el-Fasher. The package includes travel bans and asset freezes. The announcement followed the release of reporting by the Centre for Information Resilience, funded by the UK government, which documented what it called systematic starvation and conflict-related sexual violence against civilians in Sudan.

Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband addressed the sanctions on Monday. He said perpetrators of crimes against humanity "must be held accountable and support from all external backers to the wailing parties must end". He also said, "The war in Sudan has created a humanitarian catastrophe." Regarding El Fasher, he said, "A year on from the atrocities in El Fasher, UK-funded investigations have shown that rape and starvation are still being weaponised against the people of Sudan."

The sanctions name two individuals. Hussein Abu Jalak is an RSF colonel linked to atrocities during the siege of el-Fasher. Al-Nour Ahmed Adam, also known as "al-Qubba", was identified as present and playing a prominent role in besieging and attacking the city.

The UK has allocated five million pounds ($6.6m) to support survivors of sexual violence in Sudan. It has allocated another 10 million pounds ($13.3m) in humanitarian aid.

El Fasher fell one year ago this month. Civilians there endured a prolonged siege, mass killings, attacks on hospitals and widespread sexual violence. Amnesty International reports that tens of thousands of civilians have been killed and 14 million people displaced since the war began in April 2023.