The United States is set to impose financial sanctions on SAF leader, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, as part of its efforts to address atrocities in the country’s ongoing civil war, according to three sources familiar with the decision.
The announcement, expected Thursday, comes just a week after Washington sanctioned Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, widely known as Hemedti, the commander of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
Officials familiar with the matter said the sanctions aim to demonstrate neutrality by holding both sides accountable for war crimes and abuses.
Speaking to his troops earlier Thursday, Burhan dismissed the potential sanctions. “If sanctions are imposed on the army leadership, we welcome them in service of our country,” he said in remarks broadcast on Al Jazeera.
Neither the SAF nor the U.S. State and Treasury Departments have responded to requests for comment.
Civil War Ravages Sudan
General al-Burhan’s forces (SAF) and RSF jointly led a coup in 2021 that ousted the country’s civilian-led government. However, relations deteriorated over plans to integrate the RSF into the military, sparking a brutal conflict in April 2023. The war has killed tens of thousands, displaced millions, and left half of Sudan’s population facing hunger.
One source, a diplomat, said Burhan’s sanctions are tied to the SAF’s targeting of civilians and infrastructure, obstruction of humanitarian aid, and refusal to engage in peace negotiations. Washington previously sanctioned Dagalo for genocide and attacks on civilians by RSF forces, which have been linked to looting and other atrocities.
International Mediation Stalls
Despite efforts by the United States and Saudi Arabia to mediate peace, including talks in Geneva last August, SAF has largely resisted negotiations. Instead, it has intensified its military campaign, capturing the strategic city of Wad Madani this week and pledging to retake Khartoum.
Rights groups and local residents accuse the army of indiscriminate airstrikes and retaliatory attacks against civilians, particularly in Wad Madani. Both the SAF and the RSF have been accused of committing war crimes during the conflict.
The sanctions reflect growing international frustration with Sudan’s leaders as the war devastates the country and derails hopes for a democratic transition.
