US sanctions Sudan army chief Burhan over civilian deaths
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Sudan’s de facto leader, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, speaks during an event in Port Sudan on November 25, 2024 [AFP via Getty Images]
The United States has imposed sanctions on Sudan’s army chief, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, who serves as the de facto president of the country. These sanctions come in the wake of his leadership during the ongoing civil war, which has raged for 21 months, resulting in tens of thousands of deaths, displacing over 12 million people, and pushing Sudan to the brink of famine. The U.S. Treasury Department issued a brief statement accusing Burhan of destabilizing Sudan and undermining efforts to transition to democracy.
While the U.S. sanctions were announced after reports of civilian deaths in the central city of Wad Madani, the Treasury statement did not specifically mention these killings. Sudan’s foreign ministry quickly condemned the sanctions, calling them “immoral.” The sanctions follow a previous move by the U.S. government, which last week imposed similar measures on Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, the leader of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), who is fighting against Burhan’s army. The U.S. has accused the RSF of committing genocide during the ongoing conflict.
The U.S. sanctions freeze any assets Burhan may have in the U.S. and block transactions involving him. The Treasury Department made exemptions for humanitarian goods, but aid groups worry that these sanctions might encourage the military to retaliate by further obstructing humanitarian assistance. In the early stages of the conflict, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that Burhan’s army had committed war crimes.
Recently, Burhan ordered an investigation into allegations that his forces committed widespread atrocities after retaking the capital of Gezira state from paramilitary forces. His decision to initiate an investigation followed concerns over civilian deaths, including foreign nationals, after the Sudanese army’s recapture of Wad Madani. The city, located about 87 miles south of Khartoum, had fallen to the RSF about a year ago but was regained by the military in recent days. Wad Madani is a strategic location, connecting several states through key highways and being one of the closest major towns to the capital.
A Sudanese human rights group accused the military of going on a rampage in the region, with at least 13 people reported dead in Camp Taiba, a village near Wad Madani. The U.N.’s humanitarian chief in Sudan, Clementine Nkweta-Salami, expressed deep concern over retaliatory attacks against civilians, allegedly based on ethnicity or political affiliation. Tom Perriello, the U.S. special envoy for Sudan, also condemned the reports, calling them “appalling” and urging the Sudanese army and its allied forces to investigate and hold those responsible accountable.
In response to the allegations, General Burhan stated that a committee had been set up to investigate the killings in Camp Taiba, with a report due within a week. However, he did not comment on South Sudan’s concerns about the deaths of its citizens during the conflict. South Sudan’s foreign ministry had summoned Sudan’s ambassador to protest the loss of lives among South Sudanese civilians, who were not involved in the fighting. The military has previously accused the RSF of using South Sudanese mercenaries.
Recent social media videos have shown disturbing images of violence, including one where a man in civilian clothing is thrown off a bridge and shot at by a group of armed men. The BBC verified the authenticity of this video, confirming it was filmed on the Hantoub Bridge over the Blue Nile. Other videos, showing dozens of bodies of men in civilian clothing, were filmed in a location near Wad Madani. It remains unclear how these individuals died, whether they were affiliated with any fighting group, or whether they were victims of targeted killings or combat-related deaths.
The Sudanese armed forces condemned “individual violations” in Gezira state and promised to hold those responsible accountable. The RSF was also accused of carrying out retaliatory attacks following the defection of their commander, Abu Aqla Kaikal, who played a significant role in the operation that saw the army regain control of Wad Madani. The ongoing violence, coupled with the escalating humanitarian crisis, continues to draw international attention and concern, with calls for accountability and protection of civilians growing louder.
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