Trump returns to re-imposed sanctions on war-torn Sudan
A combo photo of Sudan's army chief Lieutenant-General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan (left) and Mohamed Hamdan Daglo (right), who commands the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.
The United States once wanted Sudan to transit to democracy. So in his first term, President Donald Trump helped lift sanctions imposed on Sudan as a state sponsor of democracy. On Monday next week, Trump will return to office to find a Sudan that is nearly collapsing under the burden of war.
He will find that Washington has re-imposed a different kind of sanction to the warlords, who have seen the country go down, under a terrible reign of violence including war crimes and genocide.
Then and now, Sudan remains a basket case under a junta struggling to gain control with violence, trying to defeat a paramilitary force that has employed terror on civilians.
So why did the US re-use sanctions it had tried to avoid? When the war started, Washington chose to pile pressure on parties to hold dialogue, while using allies in the Middle East such as Saudi Arabia to pull the levers. Several ceasefire deals were accepted, then immediately disobeyed.
The orgy of violence became tradition and the mounting reports of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide became regular both at the United Nations, among rights watchers and even the State Department itself.
On Thursday, the US imposed sanctions on Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, the commander of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), for “indiscriminate bombing of civilian infrastructure, attacks on schools, markets, and hospitals, and extrajudicial executions.”
Those sanctions followed the designations Mohamed Hamdan Daglo Mousa ‘Hemedti’ for committing genocide taking place in Sudan.
When Hemedti was first fingered last week, Burhan engaged a gear higher on regional shuttle diplomacy, seeing an opportunity to lobby for legitimacy including to have re-admission to the African Union, where Sudan is suspended for committing a coup in October 2021. But his troops at home were just as ruthless on civilians. John Prendergast, co-founder of The Sentry, said Burhan’s team were no saint.
“Having recently sanctioned the leader of the paramilitary RSF, General Hemedti, it was critical that the US also sanctions the leader of the Sudanese army, as they have both overseen massive human rights violations and deep-seated corruption,” he said on Friday.
“In the end, when the death tolls are tallied, General Burhan may be responsible for more deaths than anyone in Sudan due to his obstruction of humanitarian aid as a famine has unfolded.”
Everyone else, he added, should follow to tighten the noose around the necks of violators.
A situational report by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said it had sent a surgical team to Renk in South Sudan “to treat an influx of weapon-wounded patients seeking safety and medical care after fleeing fighting in neighboring Sudan.”
In South Sudan, ICRC said it had performed some 250 surgeries on the wounded since December 8, and 70 patients with weapon wounds are still admitted in hospitals, according to Florence Gillette, ICRC head of delegation in Juba.
“Under international humanitarian law and human rights law, all persons who are sick or injured must be protected. They must also have access to essential health services without discrimination.”
“The conflict in neighbouring Sudan is having a direct impact in Renk, particularly on vulnerable communities. Combined with the cholera outbreak, we are now facing a critical situation without the necessary means to provide humanitarian assistance to all”, Gillette said.
South Sudan has been, in this war, both host of refugees and confidant for some of the warring factions, especially SAF.
In Sudan, some see sanctions as a good tool to strand the warring factions. However, the effectiveness of these sanctions hinges on their ability to shift the balance of power on the ground.
In similar global conflicts, sanctions alone have not been enough to end wars; they have often been part of a broader strategy that includes diplomatic and military pressures.
The question remains: will these sanctions be used as part of a comprehensive policy, or will they remain merely symbolic actions?
Brian Adeba, a senior advisor at The Sentry said sanctioning the military leader was a right decision even though more is needed.
“Sadly, as atrocities committed by the SAF continue in offensives in central Sudan now, it is a stark reminder that such errant military leaders are still at work committing mass murder. This action should cajole the international community to activate international mechanisms designed to hold war criminals accountable as well as doubling efforts to bring the war in Sudan to a quick end to protect civilian lives.”
Burhan and Hemedti were sanctioned alongside firms said to have been used to assure them of revenues and procure weapons.
It is also a signal that foreign entities have helped Sudan’s warmongers and could be their tool to evade those sanctions. Burhan’s agent, for example is a Sudanese- Ukrainian businessman while Hemedti’s agents operated from the United Arab Emirates.
The Sudan war has been deeply influenced by regional and international actors. Countries such as the UAE and Egypt play significant roles in supporting certain factions, while Russia, through the Wagner Group, provided military assistance to one of the warring parties.
On January 17, researchers confirmed the presence of sophisticated military drones sitting on the tarmac at a South Darfur airport known for being a major UAE supply base.
The Yale School of Public Health Humanitarian Research Lab (HRL) with non-profit group Avaaz, said it had observed three military drones at RSF-controlled Nyala Airport between 9 December 2024 and as recently as 14 January 2025.
“These drones are most consistent with the Chinese-made FH-95s, which have significant electronic surveillance and warfare capabilities and can be equipped with air-to-ground munitions.
“Although the individuals or entities who transferred the FH-95 to the RSF are unknown, this is likely evidence of recent and ongoing external support to the RSF.”
These findings could raise new questions about the UAE because Washington had earlier in December indicated Abu Dhabi had stopped supporting RSF with weapons.
The FH-95 can fly for 24 hours and is reported to have a 250km (line of sight) combat radius.
But a gory video supposedly showing a South Sudanese people being tortured by men in Sudanese military fatigues on Thursday aroused unusual tension between the two peoples, forcing leaders to intervene.
President Salva Kiir Mayardit called for calm following widespread vandalism and looting of Sudanese-owned shops in Juba.
The unrest, characterised by disorganised overnight protests, erupted after a video surfaced allegedly showing the killing of South Sudanese nationals in Wad Madani, Gezira State, Sudan.
The killings were reportedly carried out by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) after recapturing the city from the opposition Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The incident, which occurred days after SAF regained control of the city, sparked outrage among South Sudanese citizens both at home and abroad.
Wad Madani, located approximately 87 miles (140 km) south of Khartoum, had been under RSF control for about a year before being retaken by the military last Saturday. RSF too, was accused of atrocities. Now both sides of the war have been sanctioned for overseeing violence on civilians.
In a press statement issued Thursday night, President Kiir, through his Press Secretary Lilly Adhieu, expressed his profound sorrow over the incident and condemned the killings.
“On behalf of His Excellency, President Salva Kiir Mayardit, we are deeply distressed and saddened by the recent barbaric killings of innocent South Sudanese civilians by Sudanese armed forces. As we all know, many South Sudanese still consider Sudan home due to our shared history and continued sisterly engagements. However, such acts of violence against civilians are wholly unacceptable.
“Our citizens trapped in war zones in Sudan are entitled to protection under the Geneva Convention, which the warring parties are obligated to uphold. I want to assure you that His Excellency the President, along with the government of South Sudan, is taking swift and decisive action in response to these tragic events,” said Adhieu.
She further stated that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had summoned the Sudanese Ambassador to Juba and initiated diplomatic consultations to hold those responsible for the killings accountable under international law.
President Kiir also appealed for restraint among South Sudanese citizens, urging them not to retaliate against Sudanese traders and refugees residing in South Sudan. “It is crucial that we do not allow anger to cloud our judgment or turn against Sudanese traders and refugees currently residing in our country,” he said.
Earlier this week, South Sudan’s government and various civil society organisations issued statements condemning the incident.
“South Sudan’s Foreign Affairs Ministry received a comprehensive report from our Embassy in Port Sudan detailing the unfortunate events that have resulted in the loss of lives among our innocent citizens, who maintain a non-combatant status and possess foreign nationality,” reads the Ministry’s statement.
The statement further revealed that Undersecretary John Samuel Bowgo had urged Sudan’s government to take immediate and effective action to protect the rights and dignity of South Sudanese citizens.
“He urged the Government of Sudan to take immediate and effective actions to safeguard the rights and dignity of all foreign nationals, particularly our South Sudanese citizens, who are currently affected by the ongoing crisis in Wad Madani and other areas of Sudan.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has called on the Republic of Sudan to consider the following measures: ensure an immediate halt to actions that endanger lives; provide unrestricted access to consular services for our citizens; conduct a thorough investigation into the reported incidents and hold offenders accountable; and inform the Ministry of the investigation findings and any measures taken in response,” said the Ministry.
Sudan pledged a thorough investigation and pledging accountability for those involved.
“The Ministry reaffirmed the commitment of the government of Sudan and all its organs to upholding the rule of law and the principles of international humanitarian law and to maintaining zero tolerance for any violations of these principles, acts of aggression against innocent civilians.
“The isolated incident will be subjected to thorough investigations, and those responsible will face fair justice. Straight-level directives have been issued to security and law enforcement agencies to take all necessary measures to ensure that such incidents are not repeated, addressing any early signs of such behaviors, and eliminating them at their sources,” read Sudan’s statement.
In response to the unrest, South Sudan’s National Police Service deployed hundreds of officers across Juba, particularly near the Sudanese Embassy, after calls on social media for protests at the embassy. Despite the heavy deployment, some demonstrators gathered outside the embassy with placards, and several were reportedly arrested by police.
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