The United Kingdom imposed sanctions against two Sudanese companies and a bank over their support for the warring parties in Sudan in the ongoing conflict that marks one year on Monday.
"The following entries have been added to the Consolidated List and are now subject to an asset freeze: AL-FAKHER ADVANCED WORKS CO. LTD (Group ID: 16464), ALKHALEEJ BANK CO LTD (Group ID: 16465), RED ROCK MINING COMPANY (Group ID: 16463)," the UK Treasury said.
Al-Fakher Advanced Works company and Alkhaleej Bank were targeted due to their "central role in funding one of the main parties to the conflict" — the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), with the former "conducting RSF’s gold export business," the statement read.
Red Rock Mining Company was sanctioned for its "central role in funding" the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) — the other party to the conflict.
On April 15, 2023, clashes broke out between the SAF and the RSF. The parties to the conflict have since introduced a number of temporary nationwide ceasefires, but none has helped settle the conflict. In late October, the parties resumed negotiations, mediated by Saudi Arabia in Jeddah, but the hostilities in the country continue. Sudanese Health Minister Haitham Mohamed Ibrahim told Sputnik earlier on Monday that more than 13,000 people had been killed and over 30,000 others injured during the year-long armed conflict in Sudan.