UN imposes sanctions on two RSF generals for war crimes

November 8, 2024 (UNITED NATIONS) — The United Nations Security Council imposed sanctions on Friday against two generals from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) for crimes committed during the ongoing conflict with the Sudanese army.

The Security Council committee, established under resolution 1591 (2005), added Major General Abdel Rahman Juma Barkalla, the West Darfur Commander, and Major General Osman Mohamed Hamid Mohamed, Head of RSF Operations, to the U.N. sanctions list.

In its statement, the sanctions committee did not specify charges against the two RSF senior military officials.

However, Barkalla is suspected of playing a role in the assassination of the West Darfur Governor and war crimes and crimes against humanity perpetrated against the Massalit people.

Mohamed, Mohamed, who is a former Sudanese army officer, has been widely identified as the mastermind behind RSF attacks nationwide, attacks marked by egregious human rights violations against civilians.

These sanctions require all countries to freeze the assets of the two generals and impose a travel ban. The U.S. State Department had previously imposed similar sanctions on both men.

Since the conflict erupted in mid-April 2023, over 14,000 people have been killed and 33,000 injured. The U.N. recently warned that the country is on the brink of famine. The fighting stemmed from long-simmering tensions between Sudan’s military and paramilitary forces, initially breaking out in the capital Khartoum before spreading to other regions, including Darfur.