The U.S. Department of the Treasury announced sanctions on February 19, 2026, against three senior commanders of Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) for their alleged roles in atrocities committed during the 18-month siege and fall of El Fasher in October 2025 — an assault international investigators now say bears the “hallmarks of genocide.”
Issued through the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), the sanctions target individuals accused of orchestrating ethnic killings, systematic sexual violence, and the deliberate use of starvation as a weapon of war against non-Arab communities in North Darfur.
Sanctioned Individuals
The designated commanders are:
- Elfateh Abdullah Idris Adam (“Abu Lulu”), accused of filming executions of unarmed civilians and boasting publicly about mass killings. He is also subject to visa restrictions under Section 7031(c).
- Gedo Hamdan Ahmed Mohamed (“Abu Shok”), accused of overseeing the siege of El Fasher and directing ethnic cleansing campaigns.
- Tijani Ibrahim Moussa Mohamed (“Al Zeir Salem”), accused of playing a direct tactical role in capturing the city and participating in massacres.
All assets under U.S. jurisdiction are frozen, and U.S. persons are barred from engaging in transactions with them.
UN Findings
A concurrent UN report concluded RSF actions demonstrated “specific intent” to destroy non-Arab communities, citing mass killings, evidence destruction, and starvation tactics.
Coordinated Pressure
The UK and EU previously imposed sanctions on the same individuals, forming what Western officials describe as a coordinated pressure framework.
Humanitarian Crisis
North Darfur remains in famine conditions with widespread displacement.
The February 19 action marks an escalation in international accountability efforts.
