Sudan denounces US sanctions on armed forces commander
Sudan condemned the U.S. Treasury Department’s decision to impose sanctions on General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the leader of the Sudanese Armed Forces and Chair of the Sovereignty Council.

Sudan condemned the U.S. Treasury Department’s decision to impose sanctions on General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the leader of the Sudanese Armed Forces and Chair of the Sovereignty Council.
The Sudanese Foreign Ministry, in a statement released Thursday, described the sanctions as unjust and unfounded, accusing the U.S. of bias and undermining the country’s sovereignty.
“The Sudanese government rejects and condemns the U.S. Treasury Department’s sanctions against Sovereignty Council Chair and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan,” the statement declared. It criticized the sanctions as lacking “the most basic principles of justice and objectivity” and dismissed them as based on “baseless justifications.”
Highlighting widespread support for Burhan, the ministry added, “This decision is a great disrespect to the Sudanese people, who stand fully behind their leader, the Armed Forces, and Commander Burhan, who leads the fight for honor against the terrorist Janjaweed (Rapid Support Forces – RSF) militias.”
The timing of the sanctions drew particular ire, coinciding with the U.S. administration’s conclusion that the RSF had committed genocide in Sudan. “The timing of this questionable decision, coming after the U.S. administration concluded that the RSF had committed genocide in Sudan, is interesting,” the statement noted.
The ministry further accused the U.S. of undermining its own credibility, stating, “The U.S. administration’s decision to impose sanctions on the commander of the armed forces, who defends the Sudanese people against the genocide plan, just days before the administration’s term ends, reflects confusion and a weak sense of confidence.”
In a sharp critique, the statement asserted that the sanctions were indefensible under claims of impartiality, effectively siding with perpetrators of genocide. “This flawed decision cannot be defended under the guise of impartiality, as it essentially supports those committing genocide,” it said.
Sudan vowed resilience against what it termed an “immoral” decision, asserting it would not deter the nation’s resolve. “This immoral decision will not deter the Sudanese people from resisting the terrorist militias,” the statement emphasized, adding that it would not weaken their determination to “cleanse this cancer from their land and return Sudan stronger than before.”
The U.S. recently added Burhan to its sanctions list due to his involvement in the ongoing conflict in Sudan. This move followed U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s announcement on January 7, attributing genocide and systematic attacks on civilians to the RSF and allied militias.
Blinken condemned the RSF for its direct assaults on civilians and targeted violence against ethnic groups, including abuses, rapes, and killings. He also announced sanctions on RSF leader Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo for his role in these atrocities, stressing the importance of accountability for those responsible.