The United States has announced that it has imposed fresh sanctions on Sudan’s Central Reserve Police (CRP) force owing to recent human rights violations.
In a statement which was made public on Tuesday, the Treasury Department accused the CRP of being ‘at the forefront’ of the crackdown on protests and protesters against military rule in the northeast African nation.
‘Since the October 25 military takeover, Sudan’s Central Reserve Police has used excessive force and violence intended to silence civilian activists and protesters,’ Treasury undersecretary Brian Nelson said in the statement.
‘We condemn Sudan’s security services for killing, harassing, and intimidating Sudanese citizens,’ Nelson said. ‘These actions are exacerbating the crisis in Sudan’ it submitted.
Africa Today News, New York understands that under the sanctions, any CRP assets in the United States will be frozen.
Recall that regular protests calling for civilian rule has been taking place since a military coup led by army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan on October 25, with heavy-handed crackdowns leaving 87 dead, according to medics.
It would be recalled that the October coup had derailed a fragile power-sharing agreement between the army and civilians that was negotiated after the 2019 ouster of longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir.
Just last week, it was reported that Sudanese security forces opened fire Monday as protesters in several cities across the northeast African nation which decided to march against military rule and a worsening economic situation.
The economic crisis in the country has worsened over the last few weeks with the costs of bread and transport noted to have soared in recent days, while protesters marched to demand a return to civilian rule and protest the rising cost of living.
Regular protests calling for civilian rule have taken place since a military coup led by army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan on October 25, with heavy-handed crackdowns leaving 87 dead, according to medics.
Sudan has been especially vulnerable to fears of global supply shortages in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
As costs of fuel spike, the cost of transport has also jumped 50 percent across Sudan.
AFRICA TODAY NEWS, NEW YORK