U.S. Treasury sanctions Sudanese Islamist leader, RSF companies

September 28, 2023 (KHARTOUM) – The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) on Friday imposed sanctions on Ali Karti, a Sudanese Islamist leader, and two companies, one belonging to the paramilitary forces and the other is a Russian-based firm.

The sanctions are aimed at holding accountable those who have undercut efforts to find a peaceful, democratic solution in Sudan.

Karti, a foreign minister under former Sudanese president Omer al-Bashir, has been designated for being responsible for, or complicit in, or having directly or indirectly engaged or attempted to engage in, actions or policies that threaten Sudan’s peace, security, or stability.

OFAC said Karti has led efforts to derail Sudan’s progress toward a full democratic transition, including by undermining the former civilian-led transitional government and the Framework Political Agreement process, which contributed to the outbreak of fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on April 15, 2023.

The two designated companies are RSF-affiliated companies generating revenue from and contributing to the conflict in Sudan.

GSK Advance Company Ltd (GSK) is ostensibly a Sudan-based information technology and security company run by influential members of Sudanese security forces. In fact, GSK has been used as a procurement channel for the RSF, one of the main aggressors in the current conflict in Sudan.

Aviatrade LLC is a Russia-based military supply company that has worked with GSK to arrange the procurement of parts and supplies, as well as training, for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) previously purchased by the RSF.

GSK and Aviatrade LLC were both designated for being responsible for, or complicit in, or having directly or indirectly engaged or attempted to engage in actions or policies that threaten Sudan’s peace, security, or stability.

The sanctions freeze all assets of the designated individuals and entities subject to U.S. jurisdiction and prohibit U.S. persons from engaging in transactions with them.

The sanctions are the latest effort by the U.S. to pressure the warring parties in Sudan to stop fighting and reach a peaceful settlement.

(ST)