Rhino: Agencies – The United States announced Thursday (January 16, 2025) that it has imposed sanctions on Sudan’s army commander, Lieutenant General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, whose forces are accused of carrying out attacks on civilians.

“This decision demonstrates our commitment to ending this conflict,” which has been ongoing since April 2023 between Burhan’s army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) led by his former deputy Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, known as ‘Hemedti,’ the US Treasury Department said in a statement.

On Thursday, the Treasury Department accused Sudan’s military of carrying out attacks against schools, markets and hospitals, preventing the delivery of aid and “using food deprivation as a war tactic.”

Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo said the steps taken today “highlight our commitment to bringing an end to this conflict.”

“The United States will continue to use our tools to disrupt the flow of arms to Sudan and hold these leaders accountable for their blatant disregard for civilian lives.”

The Treasury Department also announced sanctions on Sudanese Ukrainian Ahmed Abdullah, whom it accuses of purchasing arms for the Sudanese military from a sanctioned supplier, and Hong Kong-based Portex Trade Limited.

Earlier Thursday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed “real regret” over the failure to end the war in Sudan, expressing hope that President-elect Donald Trump’s administration will continue its attempts to bring peace to the country.“For me, yes, it’s another real regret in terms of Sudan, that we have not been able, during our tenure, to achieve this kind of success,” Blinken said at a press conference marking the end of his term.