SUDAN – The European Union (EU) has announced a fresh round of sanctions on two Sudanese commanders and two key financial and mining entities, citing their role in fueling Sudan’s ongoing conflict and committing serious human rights violations.
In a move reflecting growing international concern over the prolonged violence, the EU Council sanctioned Abu Aqla Mohamed Kaikal, leader of the North Shield militia allied with the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) commander Hussein Barsham, Al-Khaleej Bank, and Red Rock Mining company. The move comes amid intensifying violence between SAF and RSF, now entering its third year with devastating impact across the country.
The sanctioned mining firm, Read Rock Mining Company, is involved in the production of weapons and military vehicles for the SAF. Its parent company is already under sanctions by the EU, United States, and United Kingdom. “The mining sector is of particular importance for fuelling the conflict in Sudan,” the Council stated. “Mining areas are often linked to war zones and represent strategically important sites to conquer for the conflict parties.”
Al-Khaleej Bank, meanwhile, is largely controlled by companies linked to the family of RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Daglo (known as Hemedti). According to the EU, the bank “plays an essential role in financing RSF operations,” highlighting the growing role of private financial institutions in sustaining forces activity on the ground.
Abu Aqla Mohamed Kaikal, the commander of the North Shield militia fighting alongside SAF, now sanctioned, previously defected to the RSF and later rejoined the SAF in 2024. He was appointed governor of Jazirah State following the RSF’s short-lived control of the region. during his leadership of the State and the North Shield militia, he was implicated in the targeting of the Kanabi, a historically ,marginalized group composed largely of Nuba and other African tribes.
RSF commander Hussein Barsham was also sanctioned for leading field operations linked to mass atrocities, including ethnic violence, forced displacement, and systematic attacks on civilians, particularly in Darfur and other conflict zones. The EU said he was “responsible for RSF operations that have resulted in mass atrocities,” adding that the crimes include “targeted killings, ethnic violence, forced displacement and violence against civilians.”
The sanctions include asset freezes and a ban on providing financial or economic support to the named individuals and entities. A travel ban to the EU also applies to both commanders.
“The imposition of these restrictive measures underlines the EU’s unwavering support for peace and accountability in Sudan,” the Council noted. It emphasized the need for an “inclusive political process reflecting the aspirations of the Sudanese people.”
The EU also reiterated its commitment to using all available diplomatic tools to end the war and address the worsening humanitarian crisis. “The people of Sudan have a right to freedom, peace, and justice,” the Council added.
