The Sudanese government has condemned the European Union sanctions imposed on two army generals, Director of Military Intelligence and Lt Gen Mohamed Ali Ahmed Sabir, saying, ‘The bloc lacks knowledge of the ongoing conflict in the Northeast African state.’
According to a statement released by Sudan’s foreign ministry on Wednesday evening, December 18, 2024, the Sudanese government denounced the sanctions by the EU, referring to them as “baseless” and an extension of the bloc’s biased and defective approach to the conflict in the country.
The government accused the Union of hiding behind a claim of neutrality between the warring parties.
“EU is hiding behind a claim of neutrality while ignoring the fact that one side essentially represents huge groups of foreign mercenaries waging a war of genocide, sexual violence, and the systematic destruction of the material and cultural infrastructure of the Sudanese people,” the statement said.
The ministry called on the EU to reverse its decision and instead should review its approach to the conflict and take a positive stance towards resolving the situation. It said the Sudanese armed forces are carrying out their constitutional mandate to defend the country.
The EU on December 16, 2024, imposed sanctions on four Sudanese leaders, including the Director of Military Intelligence, Lt Gen Sabir. These are accused of being responsible for harassment, arbitrary arrests, and detention of members of civil society, as well as acts of sexual and gender-based violence and torture.
Others who were targeted by sanctions include the former National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) Chief Salah Abdallah and two RSF Commanders, Osman Hamed and Al-Tajani Karshom.
