The United Kingdom has imposed sanctions on senior commanders of Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) due to their involvement in severe human rights abuses, including mass killings and systematic sexual violence. Notably sanctioned is Abdul Rahim Hamdan Dagalo, the RSF Deputy Leader and brother of RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti. The sanctions encompass asset freezes and travel bans.
Foreign Minister Yvette Cooper condemned the ongoing atrocities, remarking that they “scar the conscience of the world” and emphasizing the rationale behind targeting individuals responsible for these crimes. Alongside the sanctions, the UK government has committed £21 million to humanitarian aid in Sudan. This funding is intended to provide essential resources such as food, shelter, and healthcare for vulnerable communities, particularly women and children in remote areas.
The RSF has been linked to numerous human rights violations, raising alarm among international observers. The UK’s actions complement previous measures, including sanctions from the European Union against RSF deputy commander Abdelrahim Hamdan Dagalo in November 2025 for similar abuses. The conflict between the Sudanese army and the RSF, which erupted in April 2023, has led to millions of displaced civilians and a deepening humanitarian crisis.
These developments highlight the international community’s efforts to hold accountable those responsible for atrocities and to support the hundreds of thousands affected by the conflict. The UK’s sanctions and humanitarian aid reflect a concerted response to the crisis, emphasizing the necessity of both accountability for perpetrators and assistance for suffering populations.
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