UN Security Council considers sanctioning two RSF generals in Sudan

A United Nations Security Council committee is considering sanctioning two generals with Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF for threatening the country’s peace, security, or stability, including through violence and human rights abuses.

If the men are designated, it would be the first UNsanctions imposed over the currentwar in Sudan, which erupted in mid-April last year from a power struggle between the Sudanese army (Saf and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces ahead of a planned transition to civilian rule.

The United States has formally proposed that an international travel ban, and asset freeze be imposed on RSF head of operations Osman Mohamed Hamid Mohamed and RSF West Darfur Commander Abdel Rahman Juma Barkalla, diplomats said.

Read:US sanctions Sudan’s RSF deputy leader over abuses

The Security Council’s 15-member Sudan sanctions committee operates by consensus. If no one raises any objections to the proposal by Friday afternoon, then the men will be designated.

Members can also ask for more time to consider the proposal, place it in limbo by putting a hold on it, or simply block it.

The war in Sudan has producedwaves of ethnically driven violenceblamed largely on the RSF. The RSF denies harming civilians and attributes the activity to rogue actors.

The United States says the warring partieshave committed war crimesand the RSF and allied militias have also committed crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing.

The UNsays nearly 25 million people – half of Sudan’s population – need humanitarian aid,famine is loomingand 10 million people have fled their homes. More than 2.2 million of those people have left for other countries.

The Security Council created its targeted Sudan sanctions regime in 2005 in a bid to help enda conflict in Darfur.

Read:Heavy fighting persists in Sudan despite truce

There are currently three people on the sanctions list, added in 2006. The council also imposed an arms embargo on Darfur in 2004.

In the early 2000s the UNestimates 300,000 people were killed in Darfur when “Janjaweed” militias – from which the RSF formed – helped the army crush a rebellion by mainly non-Arab groups.

Former Sudanese leaders are wanted by the International Criminal Court for genocide and crimes against humanity.