With the intention of ending the ongoing fight in Sudan, United States President, Joe Biden has issued an executive order allowing sanctions against the country.
President Biden stated that the conflict posed an “extraordinary and exceptional threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States”.
According to a statement by the US presidency, all actors responsible for the violence will face legal consequences by the US.
“Today, I issued a new Executive Order that expands U.S. authorities to respond to the violence that began on April 15 with sanctions that hold individuals responsible for threatening the peace, security, and stability of Sudan; undermining Sudan’s democratic transition; using violence against civilians; or committing serious human rights abuses,” the statement read.
Director of National Intelligence, Avril Haines, recently reported to a US Senate committee that warring sides both believed they could win militarily and had limited incentives to engage in negotiations. Thus, projecting the likelihood of a prolonged conflict.
General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, the vice-chairman of the Sovereign Council and commander of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, and army troops loyal to General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, president of Sudan’s transitional government, have engaged in combat since April.
The conflict, which has claimed at least 550 lives, has prompted the warring sides to announce a number of truces, but none of them have actually taken hold.
The conflict has also forced efforts by many international actors like the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the World Food Programme, and countries evacuating their nationals from the troubled country.