LONDON, Nov 18 — United Kingdom Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper plans to introduce sanctions relating to human rights violations and abuses in war-torn Sudan, she said today, stressing the need for sustained efforts for a ceasefire.
“I’ve instructed my officials to bring forward potential sanctions relating to human rights violations and abuses in Sudan,” Cooper told lawmakers, amid global efforts to end the war in the east African nation.
The conflict erupted in 2023 amid a power struggle between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). RSF’s recent takeover of al-Fashir, one of Sudan’s largest cities, has raised grave concerns about mass killings.
Both sides have increasingly relied on drone strikes in recent months.
Cooper said today that the international community had turned its back on Sudan for “far too long”.
“We may need to make sure teams can get in to investigate these atrocities and hold the perpetrators to account,” she said.
Last year, Britain imposed sanctions on three businesses — Alkhaleej Bank, Al-Fakher Advanced Works and Red Rock Mining — which it said were funding military groups behind the Sudanese war.
