The United Kingdom has imposed travel bans and asset freezes on 15 Sudanese military commanders, militia leaders, and security officials from opposing factions of the ongoing civil war, targeting individuals accused of war crimes during the fall of el-Fasher.
Announced by the UK Foreign Office on October 26, 2026, the sanctions address widespread sexual violence, torture, and attacks on civilians. The measures aim to ensure the atrocities committed during the city’s collapse remain in the global spotlight. This diplomatic action follows the publication of reporting by the Centre for Information Resilience, which documented a campaign of systematic starvation and conflict-related sexual violence across Sudan.
Accountability for the Siege of El Fasher
The sanctions arrive one year after the city of el-Fasher fell, marking a turning point in a conflict that began in April 2023. During the prolonged siege, the city became a focal point for mass killings, attacks on hospitals, and pervasive sexual violence.
One year since the fall of El Fasher, the UK is taking further action to support survivors and pursue accountability in Sudan.Today we sanctioned 15 RSF and SAF commanders suspected of atrocities, including conflict-related sexual violence, alongside new support for survivors. https://t.co/XQQOLxAGrR
UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband stated that perpetrators of these crimes against humanity must face accountability and demanded that external backers immediately cease support for the warring parties. Miliband emphasized that the humanitarian catastrophe in Sudan continues to deepen, noting that investigations show rape and starvation remain weaponized against the population.
Among those specifically designated by the Foreign Office are Hussein Abu Jalak, a Rapid Support Forces (RSF) colonel linked to atrocities during the el-Fasher siege, and Al-Nour Ahmed Adam—also known as “al-Qubba”—who played a prominent role in besieging and attacking the city.
The #UK has imposed sanctions on 15 military and security figures linked to #Sudan's conflict, marking the first anniversary of the fall of El #Fasher to the #RSF.Those targeted include seven RSF members, three Sudanese army officers, two former RSF commanders who joined the… pic.twitter.com/4mr6Zq3xie
Humanitarian Relief and the Scale of Displacement
Alongside the punitive measures, the UK government allocated five million pounds (approximately $6.6m) to support survivors of sexual violence in Sudan, paired with an additional 10 million pounds ($13.3m) in humanitarian aid.
According to figures from Amnesty International, the conflict has claimed the lives of tens of thousands of civilians and displaced 14 million people since hostilities erupted in April 2023. As the United Kingdom has issued sanctions including travel bans and asset freezes against commanders from both the Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese Armed Forces, the question remains whether these restrictions will successfully curb the ongoing violence or if external support to the warring parties will persist.
