US sanctions on Sudan include army, RSF, and direct impact on the people

Mahmoud Mohammadi

After a month and a half of battles in Sudan that resulted in more than a million displaced persons and refugees, in addition to hundreds of dead and wounded, international parties have exhausted their efforts to mediate, resolve matters peacefully, and resort to the negotiating table between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

After international efforts – especially from the US – failed to resolve the conflict between the two parties, Washington decided to impose sanctions on the conflicting parties in Sudan.

The United States announced the imposition of new sanctions on the two parties to the conflict due to the violent practices taking place in Khartoum during the past days, noting that the violations of the ceasefire between the Sudanese army and the RSF may prompt the imposition of more sanctions.

Sanctions were as follows

A senior White House official announced that the United States would impose new economic sanctions and visa restrictions against parties that engage in violence in Sudan.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned that the United States might take action against the leaders of the Sudanese army and the RSF after the collapse of the US-sponsored ceasefire.

“We hold the Sudanese army and Rapid Support Forces and entities subject to them accountable for actions that threaten peace and security, and we will impose measures to enhance accountability for actions committed by the Sudanese army and Rapid Support Forces, including economic sanctions,” Blinken added.

“We imposed sanctions on Tradive General Trading, which the Rapid Support Forces use to purchase equipment for its forces, as well as on Sudan Master Technology for its role in supporting companies producing weapons and vehicles for the army, and the state-run Defense Industries System that produces equipment and weapons for the Sudanese army,” he continued.

The sanctions against Sudan include companies affiliated with the army and the RSF, as well as sanctions against four companies affiliated with military authorities that feed both sides of the conflict in Sudan, including Al-Junaid Multi Activities Company and Defense Industries System.

Effect of sanctions

The Sudanese government and people have been severely affected by the US sanctions imposed on the country, and these sanctions will disrupt the Sudanese economy and restrict trade and investment, causing a deterioration in the living conditions of the Sudanese people.

Economic, commercial and financial sanctions isolate Sudan from global markets and restrict trade and investment movement in the country.

These sanctions cause a decline in economic growth and an increase in unemployment and poverty rates in Sudan, in addition to disrupting health, education and other humanitarian services in the country.

Among the other effects of the US sanctions is the negative impact on human rights and democracy. The sanctions also affected the field of health and education in Sudan, as the authorities were unable to obtain medicines, medical equipment and foodstuffs necessary to meet the needs of the people.

Reasons for new sanctions

In turn, Khaled al-Aseer, a Sudanese political researcher, said that the United States imposed many sanctions on Khartoum, and that the issue of imposing sanctions on Sudan is not a new matter.

He explained that the beginning of these sanctions was during the era of former Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, noting that the reason for the new sanctions revolves around what the Sudanese army, led by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the Rapid Support Forces, led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo “Hemedti”, are doing.

He stressed that the Sudanese Armed Forces did not stop developing defense systems under these sanctions as well, which indicates that the US sanctions did not impose a direct impact on the strength of the Sudanese army.

Aseer pointed out that the United States is not playing the required role at the present time, which is to provide what can be provided of medical and humanitarian assistance to the citizens in Sudan who are suffering greatly as a result of the war and violent confrontations, or at least trying to reach solutions with the warring parties.

Years of sanctions

Historically, the United States imposed many sanctions on Sudan from 1997 to 2017 due to issues related to human rights and terrorism.

Among the sanctions imposed on Sudan were freezing Sudanese assets; preventing some exports, imports, and financial transfers; and restricting entry visas for Sudanese to the United States.

In 2017, the United States announced the lifting of some economic sanctions imposed on Sudan under the “comprehensive transformation” program aimed at improving relations between the two countries, but some other sanctions remained in effect.

In 2020, the United States announced its intention to remove Sudan from the list of state sponsors of terrorism, a measure aimed at supporting Sudan’s democratic transition and facilitating the country’s economic reintegration into the international community.