Sudan Paramilitary Group Faces U.S. Sanctions

The U.S. Treasury Department has sanctioned a senior leader of Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) for supplying weapons to the war-torn country.

According to the U.N., the instability has claimed over 20,000 lives and displaced more than 13 million people.

Algoney Hamdan Daglo Musa, who manages the UAE-based Tradive General Trading LLC, was targeted for his role in facilitating arms imports to Sudan.

The U.S. Treasury described the company as a front for the RSF, retrofitting imported vehicles with machine guns.

Algoney is the brother of RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, often known as “Hemedti.”

Erupting in April 2023 between the Sudanese military and the RSF, the war has left over half the nation’s population—almost 25 million people—in need of food and housing.

There are concerns of a rapid cholera surge, where poor conditions have seen cases surge by 40 percent in less than two weeks.

Treasury officials stated that Algoney’s actions have “directly contributed” to the RSF’s ongoing siege of the city, which began in Khartoum, has spread nationwide.

Last year, the U.S. implemented visa restrictions on Sudanese military and RSF officials.

It also announced plans to sanction defense companies involved in perpetuating the conflict.

The sanctions imposed on Algoney block all his U.S.-held properties and interests.
Entities owned directly or indirectly by him are also affected, and U.S. citizens are required to report any such assets to the Treasury.

“At a time when the United States, the United Nations, the African Union, and others are advocating for peace, key individuals on both sides—including Algoney Hamdan Daglo Musa—continue to procure weapons to facilitate attacks and other atrocities against their own citizens,” said Bradley T. Smith, the acting undersecretary of the Treasury for terrorism and financial intelligence.

Numerous international rights organizations have voiced concerns over widespread atrocities committed by both sides of the conflict.

“Forces from Sudan’s warring parties feel so immune to punishment that they have repeatedly filmed themselves executing, torturing, and dehumanizing detainees, and mutilating bodies,” said Mohamed Osman, Sudan researcher at Human Rights Watch.

“These crimes should be investigated as war crimes and those responsible, including commanders of these forces, should be held to account.”

The sanctions are part of a broader U.S. effort to curb the violence in Sudan, which has continued to escalate to war-crime extremities despite multiple attempts at brokering a ceasefire.

Even before the conflict began, Sudan was vulnerable to mass instability as it found itself in the grip of a humanitarian crisis: exceedingly dangerous weather, political turmoil, and escalating food prices fueled poverty, hunger, and displacement.

The RSF originated from the notorious Janjaweed militias, which were active during the Darfur conflict in the early 2000s.

The group, formally established in 2013, has since played a significant role in Sudan’s internal power struggles.

Referred to as a “neglected crisis” by some activists, the actions of both groups have pushed the country toward a humanitarian catastrophe, with famine looming in several regions.

The U.N. has warned that the country is being swallowed whole by acute food insecurity, as fighting disrupts supply lines and relief efforts.

The situation has reached “catastrophic” levels, with basic services collapsing and millions lacking access to food, water, and healthcare.

El Fasher, one of the worst-affected areas, remains largely cut off from humanitarian aid due to the RSF’s blockade. Diplomatic interventions, including those by the African Union, have so far failed to yield a sustainable resolution.

This article includes reporting from The Associated Press