Sudanese Government Official: UK Sanctions a Tardy Acknowledgment of RSF Militias’ Crimes
Sudanhorizon – Special Report – Mariam Abasher
A Sudanese government official has described the sanctions issued on Friday by the UK government against four leaders of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia as a step in the right direction, despite indicating a belated recognition of the militia’s crimes.
A government official, who preferred not to be named, told Sudanhorizon News-website that although the UK government has not used the term “genocide” in its statement, the description of the crimes mentioned carried the same meaning: mass killings based on ethnicity, targeting civilians and hospitals, and sexual violence. This accurately reflects what has happened and is happening in El Fasher.
The official stated that while the sanctions are symbolic in terms of asset freezes and travel bans, they indicate that the UK government will support international accountability mechanisms, or what is known as universal criminal jurisdiction.
The source considered this a step that can be built upon, especially since these individuals are responsible for crimes against humanity, widespread killings based on ethnicity, and crimes of sexual violence. The official pointed out that these are the same issues the Sudanese government has consistently drew attention to, that these individuals be treated as international criminals.
The source expressed hope that this indictment and designation would be followed by legal proceedings in national courts, noting that several European countries have jurisdiction to prosecute such crimes.
The source further expressed hope that the sanctions would be a step towards taking concrete action against the militia leaders responsible for these crimes, and that the British government would exert efforts to prevent a recurrence.
He opined that sanctions alone are insufficient, although a welcome step, but they could be a starting point.
The government source pointed out that similar sanctions had previously been imposed by the US Administration against Abdel Rahim Dagalo and others, including the militia leader himself, as well as by the European Union and others, but these sanctions had not deterred theses militia leaders from committing crimes, shedding innocent blood, and perpetrating genocide.
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