The United States on Thursday imposed sanctions on three senior commanders of Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF), accusing them of involvement in grave human rights violations committed during the prolonged siege of El-Fasher in North Darfur.
In a statement, the US Treasury Department said its Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) targeted the individuals based on information indicating their participation in military operations that lasted for approximately 18 months and culminated in the RSF’s control of the city. The Treasury said the period was marked by widespread abuses, including killings, torture, sexual violence, and the deliberate deprivation of food from civilians.
Among those sanctioned is Fath Abdullah Idris Adam, known as “Abu Lulu,” an RSF officer holding the rank of brigadier general. The Treasury said Adam appeared in video footage killing civilians and boasting of mass killings, and accused him of involvement in the execution of SAF prisoners at the Al-Jaili refinery north of Khartoum.
The sanctions also target Jadu Hamdan Ahmed Mohamed, known as “Abu Shouk,” a major general who has commanded the RSF’s North Darfur sector since 2021. According to the US Treasury, he oversaw operations that resulted in massacres and widespread abductions. A third individual, Tijani Ibrahim Moussa Mohamed, known as “Al-Zeer Salem,” was identified as a field commander who participated in the siege and storming of El-Fasher.
The RSF has not issued an official response to Thursday’s sanctions. However, in previous statements addressing violence in Darfur, the RSF has acknowledged that serious abuses occurred, while denying that they were systematic or ordered by the leadership. The force has repeatedly blamed what it describes as “rogue elements,” undisciplined fighters, or criminal groups operating outside its command structure.
The RSF has also stated on several occasions that it arrested individuals accused of committing violations against civilians and launched internal investigations. It has presented these actions as evidence of accountability and command control.
Thursday’s measures follow similar sanctions imposed by the United Kingdom and the European Union against the same individuals in December 2025 and January 2026.
Under the US decision, all assets and property belonging to the three sanctioned individuals within US jurisdiction, or under the control of US persons, are frozen. American individuals and financial institutions are also prohibited from conducting transactions with them, with civil or criminal penalties possible for violations.
