On December 4, 2023, the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control designated three former Sudanese officials under former President Omar al-Bashir for their efforts to destabilize Sudan since the fall of the al-Bashir regime. The designees include al-Bashir’s former State Minister and Presidential Office Director Taha Osman Ahmed al-Hussein who reportedly continues to have a role in the advancing the Rapid Support Force’s (“RSF”) warfare in Sudan. Mohamed Etta Elmoula Abaas, the former Sudanese Ambassador and leader of Sudan’s Nation Intelligence and Security Service under al-Bashir, was also designated for his role as a leader of the Sudanese Islamist Movement (“SIM’) in Turkey, a group that has undermined peace and security of Sudan. Finally, Salah Abdallah Mohamed Salah (“Salah Gosh”), who was formerly a high-ranking official responsible for security and military-related efforts under al-Bashir, was designated for his efforts to advocate on behalf of a group of al-Bashir insiders preparing to execute a coup against Sudan’s civilian government.
The designations are intended to support diplomatic efforts to end the conflict in Sudan, as well as to reinforce the United States’s commitment to achieve a democratic and civilian government for Sudan. The designations were imposed pursuant to Executive Order 14098, which targets those who undermine Sudan’s peace, security, and stability and its transition to a democratic government. As a result of these designations, all property and interests in property of the designees within the United States or within the possession or control of a US person are blocked, and US persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions involving a designated person. In addition, entities owned 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked.