UK Imposes Sanctions on Sudanese Military Commanders Over El Fasher Atrocities

The British government has imposed sanctions on senior military leaders from both sides of the conflict in Sudan on the first anniversary of the mass atrocities in El Fasher. The measures target 15 commanders from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) suspected of involvement in sexual violence during the siege and capture of the city.

The sanctions include asset freezes and travel bans against the military leaders. According to the Foreign Office, the action aims to ensure global awareness of the atrocities committed in El Fasher. Among those targeted are RSF Colonel Hussein Abu Jalak, linked to abuses during the siege, and Al-Nour Ahmed Adam, also known as "Al-Qubba," who was identified as playing a prominent role in the assault on the city.

The Fall of El Fasher and Ongoing Devastation

The fall of El Fasher followed an 18-month starvation siege by the RSF. During the takeover, up to 10,000 civilians, including men, women, and children, were killed over two days, making it the largest and fastest slaughter of civilians in over 30 years. An additional 40,000 people remain unaccounted for. Allegations have been made that the RSF was backed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE), though the UAE continues to deny providing support to the group.

Fewer than 70,000 residents remain in El Fasher today, down from a prewar population exceeding 1 million. Reports from inside the city describe ongoing severe hardship, including unlawful killings, routine detention, and torture. The prolonged siege previously forced hundreds of thousands of residents to survive on animal feed.

Calls for Accountability and Evolving Conflict

Internal warnings within the UK and US were sidelined ahead of the RSF attack, according to an earlier investigation by The Guardian, which noted that preventative actions were not taken. Markings the anniversary, the Coalition on Atrocity Prevention and Justice for Sudan stated that survivors will be heard and efforts to pursue accountability for those responsible will continue.

Over the past year, the broader Sudanese conflict has displaced 14 million people from their homes and increasingly shifted toward drone warfare. Recent developments include coordinated RSF drone attacks on power stations, which triggered widespread electrical outages across eastern Sudan.