The United States has sanctioned a commander of Sudan’s paramilitary forces, saying he played a leading role in the ongoing violence against civilians in West Darfur

The Biden administration has sanctioned the West Darfur commander of the Rapid Support Forces on accusations that troops under his control have been responsible for violence targeting civilians.

Abdel Rahman Juma Barkalla is accused of leading a campaign marred by sexual and ethnically motivated violence.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) on Tuesday sanctioned Abdel Rahman Joma’a Barakallah (Barakallah) for his leadership role in the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a primary party responsible for the ongoing violence against civilians in Sudan since April 2023.