Sanctions imposed by the United States on Sudan’s army chief and de facto leader, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, have officially taken effect.
This announcement follows a similar decision made a week earlier against his rival, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, who commands the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
The ongoing conflict between the paramilitary group and the army has resulted in nearly two years of civil war, claiming tens of thousands of lives.
More than 12 million Sudanese individuals have been displaced due to the violence, which has brought the nation to the edge of famine.
The U.S. government accuses Burhan of opting for civil war instead of pursuing negotiations to resolve the crisis.
Under his command, the army is alleged to have carried out indiscriminate bombings of civilian infrastructure and engaged in extrajudicial killings.
Additionally, the U.S. and various humanitarian organizations claim that the Sudanese army has obstructed aid access, employing food deprivation as a tactic of war.
Sources indicate that the U.S. sanctions against Burhan aim to demonstrate neutrality in the conflict.
Washington has previously condemned both the army and the RSF for human rights abuses.
Experts caution that Sudan may soon confront one of the most severe famines in decades.
In response, Sudan has denounced the sanctions, which freeze any assets Burhan holds in the U.S. and prohibit U.S. transactions with him.
The U.S. has also enacted sanctions related to the supply of weapons to the army.
