The United States and the United Kingdom recently sanctioned Abdel Rahman Joma’a Barakallah for being a leader in the Rapid Support Forces (“RSF”), one of two fighting forces responsible for the war in Sudan as well as the ongoing violence against civilians in the region since April 2023. According to the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, Barakallah was designated for leading an RSF campaign in West Darfur that involved credible claims of serious human rights abuses, including conflict-related sexual violence and violence that was ethnically motivated. OFAC’s designations were imposed on November 12, 2024 under Executive Order 14098, which sanctions individuals and entities engaged in actions or policies that threaten the peace, security, and stability of Sudan. As a result of this designation, all property and interests in property of the designee within the United States or within the possession or control of a U.S. person are blocked, and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions involving a designated person. Entities owned 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked.
The UK Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation designated Barakallah (aka Barkalla) and fellow RSF commander Osman Mohamed Hamid Mohamed, on November 11, 2024, for being individuals who have impeded the peace process, constituted a threat to the stability in or around Sudan, and/or committed violations of international humanitarian or human rights law or other atrocities. These designations were imposed under the Sudan (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 202 (SI 2020/753), which subjects designees to asset freezes in the United Kingdom.
According to OFAC, these actions were taken in furtherance of the United Nations Security Council’s designation of Barakallah and Mohamed on November 8, 2024. OFAC also reported that Mohamed was designated by the U.S. Department of Treasury in May 2024.
OFAC Press Release | OFSI Financial Sanctions Notice – Sudan