Highlights: The US Treasury Department announced on Thursday, June 1, sanctions targeting companies linked to the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces. The U.S. says the companies are responsible for violations of the ceasefire signed in Saudi Arabia. Washington had warned that failure to live up to commitments could lead to measures to increase pressure on the country's leaders. On Thursday evening, the United States and Saudi Arabia announced the suspension of the Jeddah talks, in particular because of "repeated serious violations"

The US Treasury Department announced on Thursday, June 1, sanctions targeting companies linked to the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces, responsible according to the United States for violations...

Sudan: Washington announces sanctions against companies linked to the army and the RSF

The US Treasury Department announced on Thursday, June 1, sanctions targeting companies linked to the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces, which the United States says are responsible for violations of the ceasefire signed in Saudi Arabia. Washington had warned that failure to live up to commitments could lead to measures to increase pressure on the country's leaders. On Thursday evening, the United States and Saudi Arabia announced the suspension of the Jeddah talks, in particular because of "repeated serious violations of the ceasefire".

Smoke rises into the sky of Khartoum, May 17, 2023 (illustration image) AFP - -

Text by: RFI Follow

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The first targets of Washington's sanctions are companies well known for their ties to Sudanese belligerents. On the one hand, they are Al-Junaid, a gold-exporting holding company controlled by the head of the Rapid Support Forces, General Hemedti and his brother, and Tradive General Trading, a front company based in the United Arab Emirates and controlled by another brother. On the other, two major arms companies, including Defence Industry System, the country's largest defence company, controlled by the regular army.

The U.S. sanctions, the Treasury Department statement said, freeze the assets of these companies, its executives and majority shareholders in the United States. "With these sanctions," Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said, "we are cutting off key financial flows to the Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese Armed Forces, depriving them of the resources they need to pay soldiers, rearm, resupply, and wage war."

Finally, visa restrictions were also imposed on regular army officers and commanders of the Rapid Support Forces, as well as officials of the former regime of President Omar al-Bashir.

Jeddah talks suspended

In their capacity as facilitators, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United States of America announce the suspension of the Jeddah talks. This decision follows repeated serious violations of the ceasefire in the short term," the statement said.

These violations have hampered the delivery of humanitarian assistance and the restoration of essential services that are the objective of the ceasefire in the short term. As discussions are interrupted, the facilitators remind the parties that they remain bound by their obligations under the Jeddah Declaration of Commitment of May 11 to protect Sudanese civilians and the five-day extension of the May 29 ceasefire," the statement said on the website of the U.S. Embassy in Khartoum.

Joint Facilitators' Statement from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United States of America on the Short-Term Ceasefire and Humanitarian Arrangements in Sudan

In their capacity as facilitators, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United States of America announce a...

— U.S. Embassy Khartoum (@USEmbassyKRT) June 1, 2023

>> READ ALSO: Sudan: the army suspends negotiations on a truce and accuses the RSF of not respecting anything

Sudan: Washington announces sanctions against companies linked to the army and the RSF

Sudan: Washington announces sanctions against companies linked to the army and the RSF

Jeddah talks suspended

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