The European Union has rolled out fresh sanctions on a senior figure in Sudan’s powerful paramilitary force, accusing him of “serious and ongoing atrocities” committed during the more than two-year conflict with the Sudanese army. The abuses include actions in the Darfur region, where the group seized the army’s final stronghold last month.
Thursday’s sanctions against Abdel-Rahim Hamdan Dagalo mirror earlier penalties placed on the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) itself. The United States had already sanctioned Dagalo in September 2023, shortly after the conflict erupted.
Dagalo, the deputy leader of the RSF, is also the brother of its commander, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, widely known as Hemedti.
The EU’s Foreign Affairs Council said the measures were enforced due to grave violations carried out by Dagalo’s forces, including during last month’s takeover of el-Fasher, a crucial city in Darfur.
“The European Union strongly denounces the severe and ongoing atrocities committed by the Rapid Support Forces in Sudan, especially after the capture of el-Fasher,” the statement read.
“This makes it clear that the international community will pursue those responsible,” EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas told reporters on Thursday.
Kallas added that the situation is “rapidly worsening,” noting that the fall of el-Fasher “opened yet another tragic chapter in this conflict.”
The RSF which had surrounded el-Fasher for more than 18 months before taking it did not immediately respond. Their assault left hundreds dead and displaced tens of thousands, forcing families into already full camps.
According to Anouar el-Anouni, a spokesperson for the European Commission, the latest measures reflect an “escalation in the chain,” with increasingly tough actions directed at both sides involved in Sudan’s conflict.
“This is not a one-off move. It’s part of a gradual and deliberate strategy,” el-Anouni said.The war erupted in 2023 following a power struggle between two former partners meant to guide Sudan toward civilian rule after the 2019 uprising.
The fighting has claimed at least 40,000 lives, the World Health Organization reports, while aid agencies believe the real toll is far higher. Around 12 million people have been displaced.
The EU stressed that intentional attacks on civilians, ethnic killings, widespread sexual violence, starvation tactics, and blocking humanitarian aid amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity.
