The US Department of Treasury announced sanctions on Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, the leader of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), on Thursday, citing war crimes, attacks on civilians, and exacerbating one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.
In a press release, the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) stated, “Today, OFAC is sanctioning Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan under Executive Order (E.O.) 14098, ‘Imposing Sanctions on Certain Persons Destabilizing Sudan and Undermining the Goal of a Democratic Transition.’ This follows the designation of Mohammad Hamdan Daglo Mousa (Hemedti), leader of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), earlier this month.”
Additionally, OFAC sanctioned a company and an individual involved in weapons procurement for the Defense Industries System (DIS), the SAF’s procurement arm, which was itself sanctioned in June 2023.
Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo emphasized the US’s determination to address the ongoing conflict in Sudan. “Today’s action underscores our commitment to ending this conflict. The United States will continue to use its tools to disrupt the flow of weapons into Sudan and hold these leaders accountable for their disregard of civilian lives,” Adeyemo said.
The Treasury Department’s release detailed the SAF’s egregious actions, including airstrikes targeting schools, markets, and hospitals, and the deliberate denial of humanitarian access. The SAF has also been accused of using food deprivation as a war tactic.
“In December 2023, Secretary of State Antony Blinken determined that members of the SAF had committed war crimes. Alongside the RSF, the SAF is primarily responsible for a humanitarian catastrophe, with famine declared in five regions of Sudan,” the release stated.
Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, the SAF’s commander, co-led a military coup in October 2021 alongside RSF commander Mohammad Hamdan Daglo Mousa, ousting Sudan’s civilian-led transitional government. Since the coup, Burhan has actively opposed a return to civilian rule, refusing to participate in peace talks and escalating violence instead.
Under Burhan’s leadership, the SAF has carried out indiscriminate bombings, extrajudicial executions, and attacks on civilian infrastructure. These actions, as noted by the Treasury Department, have intensified the suffering of Sudan’s population and contributed to the prolonged conflict.
The Treasury stated, “Burhan is being sanctioned under E.O. 14098 for being a leader of the SAF, an entity responsible for policies and actions that threaten the peace, security, or stability of Sudan.”
The US has reiterated its commitment to holding those responsible for Sudan’s crisis accountable while working to disrupt the supply chains enabling the conflict.
