UK sanctions Sudanese commanders over alleged El Fasher sexual violence and massacre

What happened

The Guardian reports the UK government has imposed travel bans and asset freezes on 15 senior Sudanese commanders from both the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), suspected of orchestrating a campaign of sexual violence during the siege and fall of El Fasher in 2025. This action coincides with the first anniversary of one of the deadliest massacres in recent Sudanese history.

Outside Brief is treating this as a source-led account. Any disputed responsibility, casualty figure, battlefield claim or single-source assertion should be treated as unconfirmed/hearsay unless confirmed by another reliable source or a named official. During the RSF’s takeover of El Fasher, up to 10,000 civilians—including men, women, and children—are believed to have been killed over two days, making it the fastest and largest civilian slaughter this century. Another 40,000 people remain unaccounted for. The killings followed an 18-month siege alleged to have been supported by the United Arab Emirates, a claim the UAE denies. The city’s population has plummeted from over 1 million prewar to fewer than 70,000 today, with reports of ongoing detention, torture, and unlawful killings.

Key individuals targeted by the UK sanctions include Hussein Abu Jalak, an RSF colonel linked to atrocities during the siege, and Al-Nour Ahmed Adam, nicknamed “Al-Qubba,” identified as playing a prominent role in the attack on the city. Previous investigations revealed that UK and US intelligence warnings about the RSF’s preparations were sidelined, potentially costing many lives.

Known from the source

• The UK sanctioned 15 Sudanese military commanders from the RSF and SAF with travel bans and asset freezes.
• The sanctions target commanders suspected of sexual violence during the siege and fall of El Fasher in 2025.
• Up to 10,000 civilians were reportedly killed over two days during the RSF takeover.
• Around 40,000 people remain unaccounted for after the siege.
• El Fasher’s prewar population was over 1 million, now fewer than 70,000 remain.

What remains unclear

The broader conflict in Sudan has forced approximately 14 million people to flee their homes, and the fighting has evolved into a drone war, with the RSF recently targeting power stations in east Sudan, causing mass power outages. The situation in El Fasher and wider Sudan remains dire, with severe risk of famine and ongoing violence complicating aid access and protection of civilians.

What remains unclear: Confirm whether the central claim is corroborated; until then treat it as unconfirmed/hearsay. Verification of casualty and disappearance figures related to the El Fasher siege from independent sources. Subsidiary confirmation of the alleged UAE support during the siege. Details on the specific roles and actions of the sanctioned commanders.

Evidence note

This story contains report-led claims. The article keeps those claims attributed and treats them as unconfirmed/hearsay unless independently corroborated.

Original source: The Guardian Sudan. Open the source.