Abdelrahim Hamdan Dagalo faces an asset freeze and travel ban as Brussels targets the leadership responsible for the escalation of ethnic violence in Darfur.
BRUSSELS — The European Union on Thursday imposed sanctions on Abdelrahim Hamdan Dagalo, the deputy commander of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan, citing his pivotal role in the “bloodiest chapter” of the ongoing conflict.
Dagalo, the brother of RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (known as Hemedti), is accused of overseeing forces that have committed widespread human rights abuses, including sexual violence and ethnically motivated killings, particularly during the recent capture of El Fasher in North Darfur.
During a press conference in Brussels, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas, confirmed the decision: “Today we adopted sanctions against Abdelrahim Dagalo, the second in command of the RSF, and this sends a signal that the international community will go after those who are responsible.”
The measures include a travel ban within the EU and the freezing of any assets he may hold in member states. In a statement on behalf of the 27 member nations, Kallas warned that the bloc is prepared to “impose additional restrictive measures deemed appropriate on all actors responsible for destabilizing Sudan and obstructing its political transition.”
Kallas highlighted that the situation on the ground is deteriorating rapidly. “The capture of El Fasher by the RSF has opened another bloody chapter in this war. There are thousands of dead and great suffering,” she noted.
When asked about potential actions against external actors supplying weapons to the warring factions, Kallas stated that European countries are focusing on “facilitators,” emphasizing that the atrocities would not be possible without external arms supplies. She indicated that the EU agreed to intensify contacts with third countries to address this issue.
Regarding United States President Donald Trump’s recent commitment to intervene in the conflict following a request from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Kallas welcomed “all meaningful peace efforts,” acknowledging that the U.S. holds significant leverage over the parties involved.
The conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary RSF erupted in April 2023. Since then, the war has caused tens of thousands of deaths, displaced more than 13 million people, and triggered an acute food crisis affecting more than half the population, according to UN data.
The EU’s move mirrors actions taken by the United States, which had previously sanctioned Abdelrahim Dagalo for his role in the violence. Brussels reiterated its commitment to ensuring accountability and supporting investigations to break the “cycle of impunity” that continues to generate new atrocities in the region.
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