Canada has imposed new sanctions under the Special Economic Measures Act against two individuals associated with the ongoing conflict in Sudan.
A press release on Friday named the targeted individuals as Algoney Hamdan Dagalo Musa, a major and director of procurement in the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), and Mirghani Idris Suleiman, a general in the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF).
The press release quoted Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly saying that the two individuals were associated with the continued violence against civilians in Sudan.
“This includes widespread instances of conflict-related sexual violence. Through their leadership roles in financing and procurement networks in both opposing factions, these individuals are contributing to continued gross and systematic international humanitarian law and human rights violations by allowing both parties to sustain the fighting,” reads the press release.
The press release said first-hand testimonies from survivors and credible reports from the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for Sudan, mandated by the UN Human Rights Council, as well as international NGOs had confirmed that conflict-related sexual violence was widespread and escalating, particularly against women and girls, ethnic minorities, and human rights defenders.
Intense fighting continues throughout Sudan despite repeated calls for a cessation of hostilities from Canada and international partners.
Canada, the press release asserted, firmly believes that the meaningful inclusion of civilian and civil society voices in mediation is key to ensuring lasting peace. For that reason, Canada had increased its support to Sudanese civil society organizations, including women’s rights organizations, to help bolster their capacity to engage in mediation and to mitigate the impacts of the conflict.
Canada unequivocally condemned the continued gross and systematic human rights violations perpetrated against the Sudanese people and asserted a commitment to helping address the humanitarian needs on the ground.
Since war broke out almost two years ago between Gen Burhan and his deputy-turned-rival Mohamed Hamdan “Hemedti” Dagalo who leads the RSF, 12 million people have been forced from their homes and tens of thousands of civilians have been butchered.