The United States has imposed sanctions on a senior Sudanese military official, accusing him of prioritizing arms deals over peace efforts in the war-torn country.
The move targets Mirghani Idris Suleiman, the Director General of the Defense Industries System (DIA) of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF).
The US Department of State announced the sanctions on Thursday, stating that under Suleiman’s leadership, the SAF has focused on acquiring weapons rather than pursuing peace.
Washington highlighted arms purchases from Iran and Russia, including a controversial deal with Moscow that reportedly involved trading access to Sudanese ports in exchange for military hardware.
These actions, the US claims, have escalated the conflict with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), Sudan’s rival paramilitary group.
The continued fighting between the SAF and the RSF has had devastating consequences for Sudan’s civilian population.
More than 11 million people have been displaced, and over 21 million are now facing severe food insecurity. Additionally, vital public infrastructure has been extensively damaged during the conflict.
This latest sanction follows similar measures imposed on October 8 against Algoney Hamdan Daglo Musa, a senior RSF official responsible for the group’s arms acquisitions.
In a statement, the US Department of State reiterated its commitment to seeking a peaceful resolution to the conflict and holding accountable those responsible for prolonging the violence.
“The Sudanese people deserve peace, justice, and a return to civilian governance,” the statement read, underscoring Washington’s resolve to use all available tools to pressure both sides towards ending the conflict.
The US sanctions aim to intensify pressure on key military figures in Sudan, hoping to steer the warring factions toward dialogue and away from further bloodshed.
