US imposes sanctions on Sudan’s army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan

The outgoing administration of U.S. President Joe Biden has imposed sanctions on Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, accusing him of undermining the stability of the war-torn country. The U.S. Treasury Department stated in a release on Thursday that under Burhan's leadership, the SAF "has carried out deadly attacks against civilians, including airstrikes on protected infrastructure like schools, markets, and hospitals."

The statement also noted that "the SAF is also responsible for the systematic and intentional denial of humanitarian assistance, using starvation as a tactic of war." This action follows the Biden administration's sanctions against Rapid Support Forces (RSF) leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo just days earlier. The RSF is a paramilitary group in Sudan that has been engaged in conflict with the SAF since April 2023.

The U.S. Treasury Department said on January 7 that under Dagalo’s leadership, “the RSF has committed egregious human rights abuses, including widespread sexual violence, as well as the execution of unarmed civilians and non-combatants.” Washington has also accused the RSF and its allies of committing genocide in the Darfur region of western Sudan. The war in Sudan has resulted in thousands of deaths and plunged the country into a severe humanitarian crisis.

According to the United Nations, more than 8 million Sudanese have been displaced internally, and another 3 million have fled to neighboring countries. A UN-backed global hunger monitor also warned late last month that famine is rapidly spreading in Sudan, with famine conditions confirmed in areas like Darfur. During a briefing in Washington, D.C., when asked about Thursday's sanctions, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters that the SAF "continues to target civilians."

Blinken stated, "It has impeded the advancement of a peace process and repeatedly refused to engage in ceasefire talks that we have tried to convene." He also said, "It, along with the RSF, has created one of the world's worst humanitarian crises, with people suffering every single day." Blinken also expressed hope that the new administration of President-elect Donald Trump, who will take office on Monday, will continue efforts to end the conflict. He added, "For me, yes, another real regret is that, in the case of Sudan, we have not been able to achieve that day of success during our time in office."

Earlier on Thursday, Burhan displayed a defiant attitude when speaking about the prospect of him being targeted by sanctions. He told Al Jazeera Arabic that "any sanctions that serve the country, we welcome them."