The US Department of Treasury imposed sanctions Thursday on a Sudanese financial institution and two companies accused of funding belligerents in the ongoing civil war in the northeast African country.
The sanctions involved Alkhaleej Bank, as well as development company Zadna International and metal ore company Al-Fakher Advanced Works. In a press release, the Treasury accused the companies of funding the conflict, laundering money for the military and engaging in “actions or policies that threaten the peace, security or stability of Sudan.”
The Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E. Nelson announced the government was taking the action pursuant to Executive Order 14098 and expressed the department’s dedication to disrupting funding to the primary belligerents in the conflict, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
“The conflict in Sudan continues, in part, due to key individuals and entities that help fund the continuation of violence,” the press release said. It continued by stating the ultimate goal of the sanctions was not too punish but to bring about a “positive change in behavior.” Both Alkhaleej Bank and Al Fakher Advanced Works have been linked to the RSF while Zadna International has links to the SAF. The sanctions will freeze assets from the companies that are in the US or in possession of US persons unless expressly exempt. They also prohibit transactions of all kinds with the companies by US persons or persons within the US.
The latest conflict in Sudan, which has been involved in two prior civil wars over the last 70 years, began in April of 2023. According to the UN, 7.6 million people have been displaced by the fighting between the SAF and RSF, in addition to the deaths of more than 13,000 amid numerous human rights abuses alleged against each side. The EU recently adopted sanctions in January and international aid groups have been forced to close after looting in December of last year.
Despite the spiraling humanitarian crisis, Sudan’s army chief Abdel Fattan al-Burhan has insisted that no reconciliation is in the offing in response to reports that a ceasefire was close back in January, condemning the RSF for alleged ethnic cleansing in Darfur.
“The whole world witnessed these rebel forces committing war crimes and crimes against humanity in West Darfur and the rest of Sudan. For that reason, we have no reconciliation with them, we have no agreement with them.”
