Biden expands scope of sanctions to spoilers of democratic transition in Sudan
May 4, 2023 (KHARTOUM) – President Joe Biden President has expanded the scope of U.S. sanctions to include people who are destabilizing Sudan and undermining the goal of a democratic transition.
In an executive order signed on Thursday, Biden said that the situation in Sudan, including the October 25, 2021 coup and the outbreak of fighting in April 2023, “constitutes an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States”.
He further stressed that the U.S. supports the democratic transition and defends the transitional government from attempts to prevent its formation through violent means
The order provides to expand the scope of two executive existing orders blocking Sudanese government property, prohibiting transactions with Sudan and blocking property of persons in connection with the conflict in Sudan’s Darfur region.
The sanctions target any person involved in actions or policies that threaten peace, security, or stability. Also, actions undermining, delaying, or impeding, the formation or operation of a civilian transitional government.
The sanctions are also directed against grave human rights violations, corruption, and violations of freedoms of expression, association, or peaceful assembly.
Despite the neutral wording of the text, observers say that Washington besides its principled support for the transition towards democracy in Sudan, fears the expansion of the Russian Wagner group which is present in the Central African Republic and Libya.
According to Newsweek on Wednesday, the State Department warned both the Sudanese army and the RSF not to turn to Russian Wagner Group mercenaries operating in Sudan.
During a hearing with members of the Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday, Avril Haines, CIA Director stated that the conflict is expected to be long-lasting.
“The fighting in Sudan between the Sudanese armed forces and the Rapid Support Forces is we assess likely to be protracted as both sides believe they can win militarily and have few incentives to come to the negotiating table,” Haines said.
She further stated that both sides of the conflict are searching for “external sources of support,” which could potentially escalate the situation and create additional challenges for the region.
The continued violence is exacerbating the already dire humanitarian conditions and prompting aid organizations to limit their operations due to the mounting risk of “massive refugee flows” concluded the CIA director.
(ST)