The Sudan Times reports, citing a detailed analysis by London-based Al-Arab, that newly enacted U.S. sanctions have seriously weakened SAF chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan’s strategy to legitimize his war-time leadership by appointing Kamil Idris as prime minister and announcing a ceasefire in El Fasher.
The move was meant to placate Western criticism and show readiness for civilian transition, but instead collided head-on with Washington’s sweeping penalties over alleged chemical weapons use.
The sanctions—described by observers as the most direct form of pressure Washington has applied on Sudan’s SAF leadership since the war began—include a ban on U.S. defense exports, restrictions on technology, suspension of non-humanitarian aid, and potential asset freezes.
While Burhan sought to use Idris’s international reputation and UN Secretary-General António Guterres’s welcoming statement as a springboard to reset relations, the timing of the sanctions effectively neutralizes those gains. Al-Arab writes that this marks a turning point in global perceptions of the new government, one now burdened with diminished credibility and mounting domestic dissent over the opaque power-sharing process.
A Damaged Strategy
The Sudan Times concurs with Al-Arab’s conclusion that the SAF’s plan to “market” Idris’s appointment as proof of a civilian-led transition has been undercut by the harsh realities on the ground and the severity of U.S. findings.
The Biden administration publicly cited Section 306(a) of the Chemical and Biological Weapons Control Act, stating the SAF violated international law by deploying chemical agents during combat operations in 2024.
While Port Sudan junta has denied the allegations and formed a national commission of inquiry in May, no findings have been released. Political analyst Dr. Mohamed Khalifa Siddiq told Al-Arab that without evidence made public, the sanctions risk becoming politically polarizing but hard to contest internationally.
Risks for the New Government
As Al-Arab reports, the Idris-led regime now faces growing political challenges from within. Disputes over cabinet appointments among political and armed factions may paralyze efforts to project unity. The sanctions could also:
- Block critical donor financing
- Further weaken the Sudanese pound
- Push inflation and poverty rates higher
The Sudan Times notes that these effects will likely deepen Sudan’s humanitarian crisis and complicate Idris’s ability to negotiate with foreign lenders, aid agencies, or regional mediators.
The Strategic Takeaway
In line with Al-Arab’s analysis, The Sudan Times concludes that the sanctions represent more than a punitive response—they symbolize the West’s rejection of symbolic gestures in place of real reforms. Idris’s appointment may have briefly raised hopes, but without verifiable civilian control, de-escalation, and accountability for wartime abuses, the new government remains isolated and vulnerable.
General al-Burhan’s army (SAF) retain funding networks and logistical support that may shield them temporarily from economic collapse. But if sanctions widen—particularly to include banks, ministries, or affiliated corporations—Khartoum risks entering a second phase of international isolation, one more structurally entrenched than under Omar al-Bashir.
This article was produced by The Sudan Times, drawing from and building upon a June 28 report by Al-Arab, a London-based Arabic daily.
