In a stark rebuke of Sudan’s military leadership, the United States has leveled sanctions against the country’s army chief, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. The Treasury Department accusation is unequivocal: by choosing the path of brutal warfare over peaceful negotiation, Burhan bears responsibility for the catastrophic civil war that has devastated Sudan since April 2023.
A Nation Torn Asunder
The imposition of sanctions comes amid a conflict of staggering proportions. In less than two years, the fighting between Sudan’s army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has claimed tens of thousands of lives and driven millions from their homes. More than half the population now faces the specter of hunger in a nation ripped apart.
Under Burhan’s command, the Sudanese army stands accused of war tactics that have shattered the lives of civilians caught in the crossfire. Indiscriminate bombings have reduced vital infrastructure to rubble, while attacks on schools, markets, and hospitals have become grimly commonplace. Extrajudicial executions cast an even darker pall over the conflict.
Sanctions as a Double-Edged Sword
The US sanctions, which freeze Burhan’s American assets and generally prohibit dealings with him, mark the second such action in a week. Washington had previously targeted Burhan’s rival, RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, aiming to show impartiality in the conflict. Yet the question remains: can economic pressure alone bring the warring factions to heel?
“I hear there’s going to be sanctions on the army leadership. We welcome any sanctions for serving this country.”
– Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, Sudanese army chief
Burhan’s defiant response to the prospect of sanctions underscores the daunting task of brokering peace. The army has largely rebuffed negotiation attempts, opting instead to intensify its military campaign with the goal of retaking the capital, Khartoum. The strategic city of Wad Madani fell to army forces this week amid allegations of revenge attacks against civilians.
The Toll of War
As the conflict grinds on, its human cost grows ever more apparent:
- Millions displaced, fleeing the unrelenting violence
- Over half the population facing hunger as food insecurity soars
- Civilian infrastructure decimated by indiscriminate attacks
- Widespread reports of war crimes committed by both sides
The international community has struggled to alleviate the suffering. US and Saudi-led efforts to bring the warring parties to the negotiating table, including talks in Geneva last August, have thus far borne little fruit. Humanitarian access remains limited even as the need grows exponentially.
An Uncertain Future
As a new US administration prepares to take the reins, the crisis in Sudan presents a formidable foreign policy challenge. Outgoing Secretary of State Antony Blinken has expressed regret over the failure to halt the bloodshed, despite incremental progress in delivering aid. The path to a sustainable resolution remains elusive.
For the millions of Sudanese caught in the vortex of war, the future is a question mark written in blood and tears. The world’s attention may wax and wane, but their suffering is constant. In the face of such unimaginable adversity, their resilience is a flicker of light in the gathering darkness. The global community must not look away until a just and lasting peace is won.
