The United States recently announced new sanctions against former Sudanese Foreign Minister Ali Karti. These sanctions follow accusations that Ali Karti obstructed efforts for a ceasefire in the conflict that has been raging in Sudan since last April.
Ali Karti, who held a key position in the regime of former President Omar al-Bashir, is also considered an important figure in the Islamic Movement, a group described as hard-line Islamists and opposed to the democratic transition. The United States accuses him of having worked to sabotage the transition to a civilian government and more recently of having tried to prevent the conclusion of a ceasefire between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces , two factions that have been vying for power since April.
Along with the sanctions against Ali Karti, the United States also took action against two companies. GSK Advance, a Sudanese technology and surveillance company, is accused of being a front company supplying weapons to the Rapid Support Forces. The latter are headed by General Hemedti, and the company GSK Advance is said to be run by his brother, Abdelrahmin Daglo. The second company targeted by sanctions is Aviatrade, a Russian company specializing in the supply of military equipment, which is believed to have played a role in the delivery of drones to the Rapid Support Forces.
It should be noted that Russian support for the Rapid Support Forces has already been mentioned previously and the delivery of weapons through the Wagner paramilitary group has been singled out by the United States. However, this does not necessarily mean that Russia has chosen sides in the Sudanese conflict. Analyzes suggest that Wagner has been present in Sudan for several years and that he seeks above all to preserve his interests and his access to the country’s gold mines.
Finally, the US State Department also added several Islamists and former executives of the Omar al-Bashir regime to its list of individuals banned from visas, without revealing their identities.
This announcement of sanctions by the United States demonstrates the desire of the international community to put pressure on those involved in the conflict in Sudan, in the hope of achieving a peaceful and lasting resolution. It remains to be seen what the real impact of these measures will be on the situation on the ground and whether they will truly contribute to the establishment of a ceasefire and a transition to a stable civilian government. Developments in the situation in Sudan therefore remain to be monitored closely.