London freezes assets of 15 Sudanese officials

The United Kingdom has frozen the assets of 15 Sudanese military figures, including commanders from the Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese Armed Forces. The sanctions package also includes travel bans for these officials, who are accused of committing war crimes during the fall of el-Fasher.

The measures target individuals involved in sexual violence, torture, and attacks on civilians. The UK Foreign Office stated that the goal is to ensure the public learns about the events in el-Fasher. The announcement followed a report funded by the UK, produced by the Centre for Information Resilience, which detailed a campaign of systematic starvation and conflict-related sexual violence.

UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said on Monday that perpetrators of crimes against humanity must be held accountable. He argued that external support for the warring parties must end. Miliband described the conflict as a humanitarian catastrophe and noted that investigations show rape and starvation remain weaponized against the population.

The sanctions list includes Hussein Abu Jalak, an RSF colonel linked to atrocities during the siege. It also names Al-Nour Ahmed Adam, known as al-Qubba, who played a prominent role in besieging and attacking the city. The timing coincides with the first anniversary of the fall of el-Fasher, a city that became a focal point of the war last year.

London has allocated five million pounds, or $6.6 million, to support survivors of sexual violence in Sudan. An additional ten million pounds, or $13.3 million, is designated for humanitarian aid. The funds aim to address the immediate needs of those affected by the ongoing conflict.

The war in Sudan has resulted in tens of thousands of civilian deaths and displaced 14 million people since it began in April 2023, according to Amnesty International. The new sanctions mark a specific diplomatic and financial response to the violence documented in the recent investigations.