Agencies, November 05 (Darfur24)
Australia has imposed targeted human rights sanctions and travel bans on four Sudanese individuals, including Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) commander Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, over serious human rights violations during Sudan’s ongoing war.
In a statement, the Australian government said the measures also included targeted financial sanctions against one entity, as part of efforts to hold those responsible for abuses in Sudan accountable.
Australia accused both the SAF and RSF of committing serious human rights violations, including attacks on civilians, torture, sexual and gender-based violence, and extrajudicial killings.
The latest measures build on sanctions Australia has already imposed on 13 individuals under the United Nations Security Council’s Sudan sanctions framework.
The Australian government said hundreds of thousands of people had been killed and more than 14 million displaced since the conflict began on April 15, 2023. It added that nearly 34 million people, representing more than 70 per cent of Sudan’s population, require humanitarian assistance.
Australia said it had provided more than $67 million in humanitarian assistance to organisations supporting people affected by the conflict, including food, clean water, shelter, healthcare and protection services.
It also announced a class-based humanitarian permit for Sudan to facilitate certain humanitarian activities otherwise restricted under its autonomous sanctions framework.
Australia called on the warring parties to agree to an immediate and permanent ceasefire, protect civilians and humanitarian workers, and allow safe and unhindered humanitarian access.
The government said it stood with the people of Sudan and Sudanese communities in Australia affected by the conflict.
