US Sanctions Leader of Sudanese Armed Forces

 The U.S. Department of the Treasury posted on 16 January 2025 a press release titled "Treasury Sanctions Leader of Sudanese Armed Forces and Weapons Supplier."

The US placed sanctions on Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, leader of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), and the Defense Industries System, a procurement arm of the SAF.  The sanctions resulted from "egregious war tactics" that constituted war crimes.  

The New York Times published on 16 January 2025 an article titled "Sudan's Military Has Used Chemical Weapons Twice, U.S. Officials Say" by Declan Walsh and Julian E. Barnes.

Although not mentioned in the Treasury Department announcement, this report quotes US officials as stating that the SAF also used chemical weapons in Sudan.

Call for Targeted Sanctions in Sudan

 Foreign Policy published on 28 February 2022 a commentary titled "Targeted Sanctions Can Help Restore Democracy in Sudan" by Senator Chris Coons and John Prendergast.

The authors argue that the United States should invest in Sudan's resistance committees and other grassroots organizations with technical support and capacity-building resources, and by ensuring they are at the negotiating table during any political processes.  In addition, Washington should implement a modern, comprehensive set of sanctions on leaders of the 25 October 2021 military coup and their financial networks such as the Defense Industries System to disrupt their revenue streams and their grip on power.