Britain Freezes Assets of 15 Sudan Leaders Over El Fasher Violence

The United Kingdom imposed sanctions on 15 Sudanese military and security officials on Monday, targeting leaders from both sides of the civil war. The measures include asset freezes and travel bans for individuals accused of war crimes during the fall of el-Fasher.

The sanctions follow the release of UK-funded reporting by the Centre for Information Resilience. That investigation documented a campaign of systematic starvation and conflict-related sexual violence against civilians in Sudan. The UK Foreign Office stated the goal is to ensure the world learns about the events in el-Fasher.

Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said on Monday that those who committed crimes against humanity must be held accountable. He added that external support for the warring parties needs to stop. Miliband described the conflict as a humanitarian catastrophe and noted that rape and starvation remain weapons in the war one year after the city fell.

Among those sanctioned is Hussein Abu Jalak, an RSF colonel linked to atrocities during the siege. The list also includes Al-Nour Ahmed Adam, known as al-Qubba, who played a prominent role in besieging and attacking the city. The measures apply to commanders from both the Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese Armed Forces.

The city of el-Fasher became a focal point of the war last year. Civilians there faced a prolonged siege, mass killings, and attacks on hospitals. The UK government said it has allocated five million pounds, or 6.6 million dollars, to support survivors of sexual violence. Another 10 million pounds, or 13.3 million dollars, will go toward humanitarian aid.

The conflict began in April 2023. Since then, tens of thousands of civilians have been killed. Amnesty International reports that 14 million people have been displaced from their homes.