In a bold move to curtail escalating violence in Sudan, the U.S. Treasury has sanctioned Mirghani Idris Suleiman, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) procurement chief and director of Sudan’s Defense Industries System (DIS). Suleiman, the alleged mastermind behind weapons deals that have intensified the SAF’s conflict with the rival Rapid Support Forces (RSF), now faces sanctions for “perpetuating violence” and stalling peace efforts.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) cited Suleiman’s role in securing Iranian drones and brokering a Russian port-for-weapons deal, which has allowed SAF to extend its military grip in a war that has already torn Sudan apart. “Suleiman’s actions make clear his commitment to escalating brutality over diplomacy,” said Bradley T. Smith, Acting Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence. “We won’t stand by as arms flow into a conflict devastating millions.”
This is the latest of a series of sanctions aimed at halting Sudan’s warring factions. Just this month, OFAC targeted Algoney Hamdan Dagalo Musa, the RSF’s procurement director, for funneling weapons to the RSF, the group led by his brother, Mohamed Hamdan ‘Hemedti’ Dagalo.
Since the outbreak of hostilities in April 2023, millions have fled, and the conflict has become an international crisis. DIS’s strategic alliances with Russia and Iran have not only emboldened SAF but have prolonged the devastation of a nation on the brink of collapse. As Sudan edges deeper into chaos, the U.S. hopes these measures send a strong message: those who profit from warfare and instability will face global repercussions.
