The White House announced Thursday (June 1) that it will levy sanctions against people 含羞草研究社渨ho are perpetuating the violence含羞草研究社� in Sudan as warring sides fail to abide by a cease-fire agreement.
The United States is imposing visa restrictions on specific people in Sudan, including officials from the warring Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces and leaders from the former Omar al-Bashir regime, who are 含羞草研究社渞esponsible for, or complicit in, undermining Sudan含羞草研究社檚 democratic transition,含羞草研究社� according to the State Department.
President Joe Biden on May 4 laid the groundwork for the sanctions when he issued an executive order that expanded U.S. authorities to respond to the violence and help bring an end to the conflict.
含羞草研究社淭hese measures are intended to hold accountable those responsible for undermining the peace, security, and stability of Sudan,含羞草研究社� White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said in a statement.
The Treasury Department said in a statement that four companies are being designated: Al Junaid Multi Activities Co. Ltd., which is controlled by RSF Commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo and his brother RSF Deputy Commander Abdul Rahim Dagalo; Tradive General Trading LLC, a front company controlled by RSF Major Algoney Hamdan Dagalo, who also is a brother of the RSF commander; Sudan含羞草研究社檚 largest defense company, Defense Industries System; and the arms company Sudan Master Technology, which is linked to the SAF.
含羞草研究社淭hrough sanctions, we are cutting off key financial flows to both the Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese Armed Forces, depriving them of resources needed to pay soldiers, rearm, resupply, and wage war in Sudan,含羞草研究社� Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said. 含羞草研究社淭he United States stands on the side of civilians against those who perpetuate violence towards the people of Sudan.含羞草研究社�
The United States urged Sudan含羞草研究社檚 warring sides on Thursday to return to cease-fire talks and make a concerted effort to abide by a lasting truce after peace efforts collapsed yet again.
The appeal from the U.S. State Department came after Sudan含羞草研究社檚 military on Wednesday suspended its participation in the talks, hosted in Saudi Arabia, with a rival paramilitary force.
The fighting between the Sudanese military, led by Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan, and the Rapid Support Forces, commanded by Dagalo, broke out in mid-April. The violence has killed at least 866 civilians, according to a Sudanese doctors group, though the actual toll is likely much higher.
On Wednesday, heavy shelling near a market in a neighborhood in the south of the Sudanese capital of Khartoum killed at least 17 civilians, the Sudan Doctor含羞草研究社檚 Syndicate said.
含羞草研究社淭he scope and scale of the bloodshed in Khartoum and Darfur, in particular, is appalling,含羞草研究社� Sullivan said. 含羞草研究社淎nd, the failure of the Sudanese Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces to abide by the cease-fire only further deepens our concern that the people of Sudan will once again face a protracted conflict and widespread suffering at the hands of the security forces.含羞草研究社�
The Sudanese military含羞草研究社檚 withdrawal from the talks is a setback for Washington and Riyadh, which have been mediating between the two sides.
含羞草研究社淥nce the forces make clear by their actions that they are serious about complying with the cease-fire, the United States and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are prepared to resume facilitation of the suspended discussions,含羞草研究社� the State Department said.
Washington and Riyadh brokered a cease-fire on May 21, to allow for the delivery of humanitarian assistance and restoration of vital services. There have been seven declared cease-fires since the conflict broke out and all have been violated.
Later Thursday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters at a NATO foreign ministers meeting in Oslo, Norway, that both sides were continuing to violate the cease-fire agreement that was renewed last Monday.
含羞草研究社淲e will continue to be engaged. At the same time, we含羞草研究社檙e also looking at steps that we can take to make clear our views,含羞草研究社� Blinken said.
In late May, Blinken threatened Sudan含羞草研究社檚 warring generals with possible sanctions in the event of cease-fire violations.
Last week, Riyadh and Washington accused the military of continuing to carry out airstrikes, while condemning the RSF for occupying people含羞草研究社檚 homes and seizing property. Theft was occurring in areas controlled by both forces, it added.
The nearly seven weeks of fighting has reduced the Sudanese capital of Khartoum to an urban battlefield, with many districts without electricity and running water. The conflict has also stoked ethnic violence in the western Darfur region, killing hundreds there.
Jack Jeffery And Aamer Madhani, The Associated Press
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