EU blacklists seven in Sudan, including RSF leader’s brother
January 30; 2026 (BRUSSELS) – The European Union imposed sanctions on Friday against seven individuals over Sudan’s escalating conflict, targeting commanders from both warring factions and their affiliated militias in response to atrocities and human rights violations across the country.
The restrictive measures, which include asset freezes and travel bans to the bloc, bring to18 the total number of individuals—and eight entities—blacklisted under the EU’s Sudan sanctions framework.
Five of those designated are affiliated with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), including Major Algoney Hamdan Dagalo Musa, brother of RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, widely known as Hemedti, the Council of the European Union said in a statement.
Two others are linked to the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), including Al-Misbah Abu Zaid Talha, commander of the Islamist militia Baraa bin Malik Battalion.
“The responsibility for this war continues to be on the shoulders of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), as well as their respective affiliated militias,” the Council said, citing the “dramatic escalation of violence causing irreparable costs to human life in Darfur and throughout the country.”
The sanctions follow a Jan. 19 briefing to the United Nations Security Council by International Criminal Court (ICC) Deputy Prosecutor Khan, who told the council that war crimes and crimes against humanity were committed in El Fasher, particularly during a prolonged RSF siege of the North Darfur city in late October.
The EU said the designations directly addressed its fourth demand to the conflict parties under Council Conclusions adopted in October 2025, which called for restoring the rule of law, accountability and respect for international humanitarian law.
Brussels established its Sudan sanctions framework in October 2023 and has progressively expanded the list through successive designations in 2024 and 2025.
The conflict erupted in April 2023 amid a power struggle between the army and RSF during a planned transition to civilian rule, killing thousands and displacing millions while threatening regional stability.