U.S. Sanctions Three RSF Leaders Weeks After Ruto Requested Trump’s Intervention

U.S. Sanctions Three RSF Leaders Weeks After Ruto Requested Trump’s Intervention

Nairobi, Kenya – The United States has imposed sanctions on three senior commanders of Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF), citing their involvement in atrocities committed during the ongoing civil war, particularly in El Fasher, North Darfur.

The announcement, made on Thursday, February 19, comes just weeks after President William Ruto publicly appealed to U.S. President Donald Trump to support international efforts to address what he described as a worsening humanitarian crisis in Sudan.

“Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned three commanders of the RSF for their actions in El-Fasher, Sudan,” the U.S. government said in its statement.

Allegations Against RSF

According to Washington, the RSF has been accused of carrying out ethnic killings, torture, starvation tactics, and widespread sexual violence during its 18-month assault on El Fasher, a strategic stronghold of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF).

The conflict, which erupted in April 2023 between the RSF and SAF, has spiraled into one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises. U.S. officials estimate that more than 150,000 people have been killed and over 14 million displaced, with El Fasher becoming a focal point of the violence.

“As a result of today’s action, all property and interests in property of the designated persons that are in the U.S. or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC,” the statement added.

The sanctions effectively freeze any assets belonging to the commanders within U.S. jurisdiction and bar them from accessing American financial systems.

Ruto’s Appeal to Trump

The sanctions follow President Ruto’s December 2025 appeal to President Trump during the signing of a peace agreement between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo in Washington. Ruto urged the U.S. to extend its influence to Sudan, warning that the crisis was escalating beyond regional capacity.

“As we celebrate progress in the DRC, we must not look away from other crises. We ask President Trump, in his quest for global peace and solidarity, to support efforts to resolve the unfolding human catastrophe in Sudan,” Ruto stated at the time.

Kenya has positioned itself as a key regional mediator in African conflicts, with Ruto repeatedly calling for stronger international collaboration to address Sudan’s war.

Wider Context

The sanctions are part of a broader U.S. strategy to pressure armed groups in Sudan to halt violence and engage in peace negotiations. Analysts note that the move signals Washington’s intent to hold RSF leaders accountable while reinforcing its partnership with African states pushing for stability.

Human rights groups have welcomed the sanctions, describing them as a step toward justice for victims of atrocities. However, they caution that sanctions alone may not be sufficient to stop the violence without sustained diplomatic and humanitarian interventions.

Conclusion

The U.S. decision to sanction RSF commanders underscores growing international concern over Sudan’s civil war and its devastating humanitarian toll. With President Ruto’s appeal highlighting Africa’s call for global solidarity, the sanctions may mark the beginning of deeper U.S. involvement in efforts to resolve one of the continent’s most pressing crises.

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U.S. Sanctions Three RSF Leaders Weeks After Ruto Requested Trump’s Intervention