London, October 27 (Darfur24)
The United Kingdom announced on Monday sanctions against 15 senior commanders from the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) over their alleged involvement in atrocities in El Fasher, North Darfur, including conflict-related sexual violence.
The announcement coincided with the first anniversary of the RSF’s takeover of El Fasher following an 18-month siege during which residents faced widespread abuses, severe food shortages and restrictions on humanitarian aid.
In a statement, the UK Foreign Office said the sanctions target individuals suspected of involvement in atrocities, including sexual violence. The measures include travel bans and asset freezes and are intended to help ensure that crimes committed in El Fasher are exposed and those responsible held accountable.
Among those sanctioned are RSF Colonel Hussein Abu Jalak, over his alleged links to atrocities during the siege, and Al-Nour Ahmed Adam, known as Al-Qubba, whom the statement identified as having played a prominent role in the siege and assault on the city.
Al-Qubba defected from the RSF shortly after the group seized El Fasher, reportedly after failing to secure appointment as North Darfur’s military commander. He subsequently joined the army and began assembling forces to fight alongside it.
The Foreign Office said the RSF captured El Fasher after an 18-month siege that left thousands of civilians facing starvation. In the days following the takeover, civilians were subjected to massacres, women and girls faced widespread sexual violence, and entire communities were destroyed, the statement said.
The UK also highlighted findings from a new report published by the Centre for Resilience Against Misinformation, with British support, which it said documented the continued use of tactics employed during the siege across Sudan.
According to the statement, blockades, drone attacks on civilian infrastructure and humanitarian operations, and restrictions on aid deliveries continue to be used as weapons of war. The report included a video in which RSF fighters allegedly discussed cutting off water supplies to El Fasher and preventing traders from bringing food into the city.
The report also documented widespread sexual violence, including the abduction and repeated rape of women and girls, as well as their detention in conditions described as amounting to sexual slavery.
The UK announced £5 million in funding to support survivors of conflict-related sexual violence in Sudan. The funding will cover services and supplies, including sexual and reproductive health care, maternal health services, psychosocial support and safe spaces for women and girls.
A further £10 million package will support the humanitarian response to Sudan’s worsening crisis, amid growing famine risks linked to attacks on markets, health facilities and displacement camps, restrictions on humanitarian access and drought associated with El Niño.
The funding is expected to help provide clean water and sanitation services at displacement sites around the Long area and reduce the risk of disease outbreaks.
UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said investigations funded by Britain had found that rape and starvation continued to be used as weapons of war a year after the atrocities in El Fasher.
“These are crimes against humanity, and those who committed them must be held accountable. All external supporters of the warring parties must stop their support,” Miliband said.
