Australia has imposed financial sanctions and travel bans on four senior Sudanese military and paramilitary figures over alleged serious human rights ...
Australia has imposed financial sanctions and travel bans on four senior Sudanese military and paramilitary figures over alleged serious human rights violations committed during Sudan’s ongoing conflict.The measures, announced on Nov. 5 by the Australian government, target Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) Commander-in-Chief Gen. Abdel Fattah Abdelrahman al-Burhan and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, widely known as Hemedti.The other two individuals are Al-Tijani Al-Tahir Karshoum, identified as the de facto governor of West Darfur, and Hussein Barsham, an RSF field commander.Australia has also imposed financial sanctions on the Al-Baraa Bin Malik Brigade, an armed group aligned with the Sudanese military.Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the sanctions were introduced in response to serious human rights violations and abuses committed by both warring parties, including attacks on civilians, torture, sexual and gender-based violence, and extrajudicial killings.The sanctions were imposed under Australia's autonomous human rights sanctions framework, which allows the government to freeze assets and restrict the travel of individuals linked to serious human rights abuses.The measures prevent the four individuals from travelling to, entering or remaining in Australia. They also prohibit unauthorised dealings with assets owned or controlled by the designated individuals and group.The sanctions come as Sudan continues to experience a devastating conflict that erupted on April 15, 2023, following a power struggle between the Sudanese military and the RSF.According to the Australian government, the war has killed hundreds of thousands of people and displaced more than 14 million others. Nearly 34 million people, representing more than 70% of Sudan's population, require humanitarian assistance.Australia said it had provided more than A$67 million in humanitarian assistance to organisations supporting people affected by the conflict, including food, clean water, shelter, health services and protection for survivors of gender-based violence.Canberra also issued a humanitarian permit to ensure that eligible relief activities can continue despite restrictions under its sanctions framework.Australia called on both sides to agree to an immediate and permanent ceasefire, protect civilians and humanitarian workers, and allow safe and unhindered humanitarian access.The latest measures build on sanctions previously imposed by Australia on 13 individuals under the United Nations Security Council's Sudan sanctions framework.
0 likes