Britain has imposed sanctions on top leaders of Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), accusing them of involvement in mass killings, systematic sexual violence and deliberate attacks on civilians as the country’s war approaches its third year. The measures target Abdul Rahim Hamdan Dagalo the RSF’s deputy leader and brother of commander Mohamed Hamdan “Hemedti” Dagalo along with three additional commanders believed to be tied to atrocities committed across Sudan.
Foreign minister Yvette Cooper called the abuses “so horrific they scar the conscience of the world,” saying the sanctions strike directly at those responsible for the violence. Alongside the punitive measures, the UK also committed £21 million in humanitarian support for food, shelter, healthcare and protection services for women and children in conflict-affected areas.
Background
Sudan has been engulfed in civil war since April 2023, when tensions between the Sudanese army and the RSF escalated into full-scale conflict. The RSF, which grew out of the Janjaweed militias implicated in the Darfur genocide, has been repeatedly accused of ethnic violence, large-scale killings, torture, rape, and forced displacement as it battles for territorial control. Millions have fled their homes, and entire cities in Darfur and Khartoum have been devastated.
International mediation efforts recently intensified, with the United States, UAE, Egypt and Saudi Arabia proposing a three-month truce and subsequent peace talks. Although the RSF initially claimed to accept the plan, it soon launched drone attacks on army-held areas, undermining trust in the process.
Why It Matters
The UK’s move adds diplomatic pressure on the RSF leadership at a moment when global powers are trying to halt the war’s rapid escalation. Targeted sanctions signal an effort to isolate commanders accused of orchestrating atrocities while simultaneously bolstering humanitarian assistance for civilians trapped in siege-like conditions. With regional stability at risk and with neighbouring countries already strained by refugees London’s decision reflects growing alarm over the conflict’s widening humanitarian and security fallout.
Key Actors
The sanctions focus on Abdul Rahim Dagalo and other senior RSF figures seen as central to both the military campaign and human rights abuses. Their designation by a key Western government increases their international isolation and amplifies demands for accountability. The UK joins a growing list of states calling for consequences as the RSF’s actions draw global condemnation.
What’s Next
The coming weeks will test whether increased diplomatic pressure can push either side toward meaningful negotiations. With external powers promoting a ceasefire plan and humanitarian conditions deteriorating, momentum for a political track may grow but ongoing RSF offensives and the army’s counter-attacks suggest that a durable truce remains elusive.
Analysis
The sanctions reflect a broader shift toward targeted pressure rather than broad punitive measures, aiming to isolate key actors without worsening the civilian crisis. However, their effectiveness will depend on whether they are matched by coordinated action from regional and international partners. If the RSF continues battlefield advances and rejects political compromise, sanctions alone are unlikely to alter its calculus. Still, the UK’s move adds moral and political weight at a moment when accountability, leverage, and humanitarian relief are all in high demand and short supply.
With information from Reuters.
