The Australian Government is today imposing targeted Magnitsky-style human rights sanctions and travel bans on four Sudanese individuals and targeted financial sanctions on one entity in response to the ongoing conflict and catastrophic humanitarian crisis in Sudan.
The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) have committed serious human rights violations and abuses, including attacks on civilians, torture, sexual and gender-based violence, and extrajudicial killings. Those responsible for serious human rights violations and abuses must be held to account.
The sanctions target the leaders of both warring parties, including Commander in Chief of the SAF, Abdel Fattah Abdelrahman al-Burhan, and Commander of the RSF, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo Mousa. They build on sanctions already imposed by Australia on 13 individuals under the United Nations Security Council's Sudan framework.
Since the conflict in Sudan began on 15 April 2023, hundreds of thousands of people have been killed and over 14 million individuals have been displaced. Almost 34 million people - over 70 per cent of Sudan's population - are in need of humanitarian assistance.
Australia has provided over $67 million in humanitarian assistance to organisations delivering support to those impacted by the conflict. Assistance has included food, clean water and shelter, health and protection services and support to victim survivors of gender-based violence.
A class-based humanitarian permit has been issued for Sudan, to facilitate certain humanitarian activities otherwise restricted under Australia's autonomous sanctions framework.
The latest sanctions underscore Australia's commitment to addressing human rights atrocities and holding perpetrators to account.
Australia unequivocally condemns violence against civilians and humanitarian personnel. We call on all parties to the conflict to agree to an immediate and permanent ceasefire, to protect civilians and humanitarian personnel, and to allow and facilitate full, safe, rapid, and unhindered humanitarian access, in accordance with international humanitarian law.
Australia stands with the people of Sudan and Sudanese communities in Australia affected by this devastating conflict.
