U.S. sanctions brother of Sudan’s RSF leader over weapons procurement

October 8, 2024 (WASHINGTON) – The United States on Tuesday imposed sanctions on the younger brother of Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) commander, accusing him of being responsible for weapons procurement for the paramilitary group.

Algoney Hamdan Dagalo, who serves as the RSF’s director of procurement, is also believed to manage the group’s investments outside of Sudan, the U.S. Treasury Department said in a statement.

“Algoney has extended this war by leading RSF efforts to procure weapons and military materiel. By arming the RSF, his actions have directly contributed to the RSF’s ongoing siege of El Fasher in North Darfur, a city of nearly two million vulnerable civilians, and the RSF’s operations elsewhere in Sudan,” the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) said.

Algoney has controlled various RSF front companies, notably Tradive General Trading. Under OFAC sanctions, this company has been responsible for importing vehicles into Sudan for the RSF, added the Treasury.

The sanctions freeze any of Algoney’s assets under U.S. jurisdiction and bar Americans from dealing with him.

The Treasury accused Algoney of prolonging the conflict in Sudan by leading efforts to buy weapons and military equipment for the RSF. It said his actions contributed to the siege of El Fasher in North Darfur and RSF operations in other parts of Sudan.

The Treasury said Algoney is a close confidante of RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemetti, and previously served as his personal secretary. It added that Algoney is a key officer in the RSF, highlighting Hemedti’s tendency to place family members in important roles.

“While the United States, United Nations, African Union, and others defend peace, key individuals on both sides, including Algoney, continue to purchase weapons to facilitate attacks and other atrocities against their citizens,” said Acting Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, Bradley T. Smith.

“The United States will continue to hold accountable those who seek to prolong the conflict and restrict access to vital humanitarian assistance in Sudan,” he added.

The sanctions follow similar measures imposed on Hemetti’s older brother, Abdel Rahim Hamdan Dagalo, the RSF’s deputy commander, on September 6.