Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper emphasized that the sanctions convey a message that such atrocities “cannot and will not go unpunished.”
Although the U.K. has previously targeted other RSF members, the paramilitary group’s recent dissemination of footage depicting their alleged crimes has facilitated the justification for sanctions.
On Friday, the announcement of sanctions was paired with a new £21 million aid package designed to offer food, clean water, healthcare, and protection for the thousands affected by what the U.K. government has labeled the world’s most severe humanitarian crisis. The London administration has faced pressure from lawmakers urging more decisive action to halt the violence.
The U.K.’s measures follow the U.S. decision this week to penalize a network accused of recruiting former Colombian soldiers for Sudan’s civil war, with the European Union also penalizing RSF leaders for alleged crimes in Darfur.
Sudan has been embroiled in a civil war for two and a half years, with the Sudanese Armed Forces clashing with the Rapid Support Forces paramilitary group, which international bodies have accused the United Arab Emirates of supporting.
Since becoming foreign secretary, Cooper has prioritized the Sudan conflict and has spoken about it multiple times with her U.S. counterpart Marco Rubio.
In November, Donald Trump indicated a renewed focus on ending Sudan’s violence after a meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, though the persistence of this interest remains uncertain.
Leave a Reply