Gebreil Ibrahim Mohamed Fediel (Gebreil). [Photo: Courtesy]
By TWV Foreign Affairs Correspondent
The United States has sanctioned two Sudanese Islamist actors, Gebreil Ibrahim Mohamed Fediel (Gebreil) and the Al-Baraa Bin Malik Brigade (BBMB), for undermining peace and stability in the country. The Department of the Treasury announced that, pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 14098, Imposing Sanctions on Certain Persons Destabilising Sudan and Undermining the Goal of a Democratic Transition, the two were sanctioned for their role in Sudan’s ongoing brutal conflict.
Premium
To unlock the full article: Choose one of the options below:
Ksh 10 – This article only
Ksh 300 – Monthly subscription
Ksh 2340 – Yearly subscription (10% off)
“Today’s sanctions seek to limit Islamist influence in Sudan and curtail Iran’s regional activities that have contributed to instability, conflict, and civilian suffering. Sudanese Islamist elements have a long history as a malign force in the country, most notably during the regime of former President Omar al-Bashir, who ruled for 30 years until 2019,” the Treasury said in a statement on Friday.
According to Washington, Sudanese Islamists have recently played a key role in derailing the nation’s progress towards a democratic transition by undermining the former civilian-led transitional government and the Framework Political Agreement process. “This conduct contributed to the outbreak of fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces in April 2023. Hardline Islamists continue to obstruct efforts to secure a ceasefire and are cultivating ties with, and receiving technical support from, the Iranian government, particularly the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, a designated Foreign Terrorist Organisation,” the statement added.
The sanctions, the US stressed, aim to hold malign actors accountable for sowing instability and destruction in Sudan with Iranian backing. “The United States is committed to working with regional partners to achieve peace and stability in Sudan and to ensuring the country does not become a permissive environment for those who threaten Americans and the national interests of the United States. The US government will continue to use its tools to ensure that Sudanese Islamists never regain power in Sudan,” it concluded.
