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Britain has imposed sanctions on six individuals accused of committing atrocities or fueling the ongoing war in Sudan, targeting senior military figures and alleged facilitators on both sides of the conflict, the UK government said on Thursday.
The measures, which include asset freezes and travel bans, are aimed at commanders linked to Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces, as well as individuals suspected of recruiting mercenaries and supplying military equipment that has prolonged the fighting.
British officials said the sanctions are designed to disrupt the financial, logistical, and operational networks sustaining the war, which has displaced millions of civilians and plunged the country into a deep humanitarian crisis since fighting erupted in April 2023.
The conflict, driven by a power struggle between Sudan’s regular army and the RSF, has spread across much of the country, drawing in regional actors and severely restricting access for humanitarian aid agencies, according to the United Nations.
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British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said the action followed her visit earlier this week to the Sudan–Chad border, where large numbers of refugees have fled the violence.
“We urgently need a ceasefire and safe access for humanitarian relief agencies to reach all those in need,” Cooper said in a government statement. “Through these sanctions, we will seek to dismantle the war machine of those who perpetrate or profit from the brutal violence in Sudan.”
Among those sanctioned are Abu Aqla Mohamed Kaikal, a former RSF commander who now heads the Sudan Shield Forces; RSF field commander Hussein Barsham; and RSF financial adviser Mustafa Ibrahim Abdel Nabi Mohamed, according to the UK government.
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Britain also imposed sanctions on three individuals—Alvaro Andres Quijano, Mateo Andres Duque Botero, and Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero—who are suspected of recruiting foreign fighters or facilitating the acquisition of military equipment used in the conflict.
The government said these individuals are believed to have played critical roles in sustaining hostilities by enabling funding flows, weapons procurement, or manpower for the warring parties.
The UK sanctions add to a growing set of international measures imposed by Western governments seeking to pressure Sudan’s rival factions to halt the fighting and engage in meaningful negotiations.
The United States and the European Union have previously sanctioned figures linked to abuses in Sudan, while repeatedly warning that continued violence risks further destabilizing the region and worsening an already dire humanitarian situation.
According to UN agencies, millions of Sudanese have been internally displaced or forced to flee to neighboring countries, while acute food shortages and attacks on civilians continue to mount.
Britain said it would continue coordinating with international partners to push for a ceasefire, expand humanitarian access, and hold those responsible for abuses accountable.
