The situation in Sudan continues to cause serious international concern. The United States recently announced sanctions against Ali Karti, a former Sudanese foreign minister, for his alleged role in obstructing peace efforts in the country.
Ali Karti is an important figure in the regime of former President Omar al-Bashir. He served as foreign minister, but is also known for his role as secretary general of the Islamic Movement, a group described by the United States as a hardline branch of Islamists, opposed to the democratic transition.
The accusations against Ali Karti are serious. He is accused of trying to undermine the transition to civilian government in Sudan. More recently, he is suspected of having hindered the conclusion of a ceasefire between the two rival factions which have been vying for power since April 2023: the Sudanese army led by General al-Burhan and the Support Forces. (FSR) led by General Hemedti.
In addition to the sanctions targeting 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 RSF. British authorities have already imposed sanctions on the company, calling it run by Abdelrahmin Daglo, the brother of General Hemedti.
Another Russian company, Aviatrade, is also sanctioned by the United States. This company, based in Izhevsk, approximately 600 km from Moscow, is a supplier of military equipment. American authorities accuse these two companies of having delivered military equipment, notably drones, to the FSR.
It should be noted that tensions in Sudan are also attracting Russia’s attention. Although Moscow has previously been accused of supplying weapons to the RSF through the Wagner paramilitary group, it is important to note that this does not necessarily mean that Russia has chosen sides in the Sudanese conflict. According to some experts, Wagner has been present in Sudan for several years and seeks above all to preserve its interests, in particular access to the country’s gold mines.
Finally, the US State Department also added several Islamists as well as former executives of the al-Bashir regime to its visa ban list, without providing further details on their identity.
The situation in Sudan therefore remains worrying, with international actors trying to influence the course of events and promote a peaceful democratic transition in the country. The sanctions imposed by the United States aim to put pressure on Sudanese officials involved in obstructing peace, in the hope of advancing negotiations and ending the months-long conflict.