Milbank Orders Freezes on 15 Sudan Commanders

The United Kingdom froze the assets of 15 Sudanese military figures on Monday. The sanctions include travel bans for commanders from the Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese Armed Forces. Officials accused these leaders of committing war crimes during the fall of el-Fasher.

Ed Miliband, the UK Foreign Secretary, stated that perpetrators of crimes against humanity must face accountability. He added that external support for the warring parties must cease. The move follows a one-year anniversary of the city's capture, which marked a critical phase in the conflict.

Civilians in el-Fasher endured a prolonged siege before the city fell. Reports documented mass killings, widespread sexual violence, and attacks on hospitals. The Foreign Office cited UK-funded reporting by the Centre for Information Resilience as the basis for the action. That report detailed a campaign of systematic starvation and conflict-related sexual violence.

Miliband noted that investigations show rape and starvation remain active tools of war. He described the situation as a humanitarian catastrophe. The sanctions list includes Hussein Abu Jalak, an RSF colonel linked to atrocities during the siege. Al-Nour Ahmed Adam, known as al-Qubba, was also named for his prominent role in besieging and attacking the city.

The UK allocated five million pounds to support survivors of sexual violence. An additional ten million pounds was designated for general humanitarian aid. These funds aim to address the immediate needs of those affected by the conflict's escalation.

Amnesty International reported that tens of thousands of civilians have died since the war began in April 2023. Fourteen million people have been displaced from their homes. The new measures target leaders from both sides of the civil war to pressure them toward accountability.