The Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Mr Andrew Mitchell)
On 15 April 2024, in response to the ongoing conflict in Sudan, the UK announced a package of three sanctions designations under the Sudan (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020. We are freezing the assets of three commercial entities linked to the parties responsible for the conflict, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), headed by Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), headed by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti). On 15 April 2023, the SAF and RSF dragged Sudan into a brutal and unnecessary conflict. One year on, the human cost has been terrible. We continue to see appalling atrocities against civilians, a serious lack of humanitarian access and an utter disregard for civilian life. Those responsible for human rights abuses and violations must be held to account.
UK sanctions on entities used by the SAF and RSF to finance their war effort are designed with a specific purpose—to press the parties to engage in sustained and meaningful efforts to achieve peace, to allow humanitarian access and assistance, and to end atrocities. It is crucial that the international community works to isolate SAF and RSF sources of funding.
Both the SAF and the RSF own and control vast commercial empires which provide them with economic resources and weapons that enable them to keep fighting. On 12 July 2023, we imposed asset freezes on six commercial entities. This comprised three commercial entitles operating under the authority of the SAF and three operating under the authority of the RSF.
Working with partners including the US, who designated two of the same entities on 31 January, these new UK sanctions will amplify the strong message of international condemnation sent to both parties to the conflict. The UK will continue to examine other levers to disrupt and constrain the sources of funding that SAF and RSF are using to fuel and sustain the war.
We are committed to ensuring that our sanctions do not have unintended consequences. The Sudan regulations include a humanitarian exception that exempts from asset freeze prohibitions all activities necessary for the timely delivery of humanitarian assistance and other activities that support basic human needs, when these activities are carried out by certain eligible organisations as laid out in UK legislation[1].
On 28 March, the UK announced a near doubling of aid to Sudan to address the deepening humanitarian crisis. This vital support will provide emergency and life-saving food assistance to support people particularly in hard-to reach areas in Sudan, including nutrition, water and hygiene services for 500,000 children under five.
The full list of designations is as follows:
Alkhaleej Bank, a central financial institution which has been central to the RSF financing its operations and to control key elements of the Sudanese economy.
Al-Fakher Advanced Works, a holding company used by the RSF to export gold. The proceeds of these sales are used to purchase weapons to allow the RSF to continue fighting.
Red Rock Mining, a mining and exploration company which is a subsidiary of Sudan Master Technology, who the UK has already designated and provides funds to the SAF. It is also closely linked to Defence Industries System, the economic and manufacturing arm of the SAF, which we designated last July.
Those companies designated on 12 July 2023 comprised three SAF-linked companies and three RSF: Defence Industries Systems, Sudan Master Technology, Zadna International Company for Investment Limited, Al-Junaid, GSK Advance Company, and Tradive General Trading.
[1] The Sanctions (Humanitarian Exception) (Amendment) Regulations 2023 (legislation.gov.uk)
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