US imposes sanctions and visa restrictions over Sudan conflict

GOOBJOOG NEWS: The United States has announced new sanctions on Sudanese leaders and their companies which it blames for the collapse of the previous ceasefire that was brokered by the US and the Saudi governments.

The US blacklisted two major arms companies of the Sudanese Armed Forces, Defense Industries System and Sudan Master Technology and also placed sanctions on gold miner Al Junaid Multi Activities Co and arms trader Tradive General Trading, two companies controlled by RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo and his family.

Fighting has continued in Khartoum and other parts of Sudan between the Sudanese Army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) both of which the United States says it holds responsible for breaking the ceasefire and continuing the bloodshed.

The US State Department at the same time imposed visa restrictions on officials from the SAF, RSF, and leaders from the former Omar al-Bashir regime, saying they were complicit in “undermining Sudan’s democratic transition.” However, it did not provide the names of those hit with visa blocks.

“We are following through by levying economic sanctions, imposing visa restrictions against actors who are perpetuating the violence,” US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said in a statement.

On Thursday, fighting was reported in North Khartoum a few days after the two sides agreed to extend an initial ceasefire – which was meant to allow flow of crucial humanitarian aid, by another five days

The army on Wednesday attacked RSF bases in the capital after pulling out of the truce talks in the Saudi city of Jeddah, accusing its rival of violating the ceasefire.

“Eighteen civilians were killed and 106 wounded by army artillery fire and aerial bombardments Wednesday on a market in southern Khartoum,” a committee of human rights lawyers said.