Tag: 2025

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 12 December 2025.

The UK has sanctioned individuals suspected of atrocities including mass killings, sexual violence, and deliberate attacks on civilians in El Fasher, Sudan.

• UK sanctions senior Rapid Support Forces commanders suspected of atrocities including mass killings, sexual violence, and deliberate attacks on civilians in El Fasher, Sudan.
• The UK calls for an immediate end to atrocities, the protection of civilians, and the removal of barriers to humanitarian access by all parties to the conflict.
• The UK is stepping up its response to the crisis in Sudan with an additional £21 million to provide food, shelter, health services, and protection for women and children in some of the hardest-to-reach areas.

The UK has today (12 December) sanctioned senior commanders of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) suspected of heinous violence in El Fasher, Sudan, including mass killings, systematic sexual violence and deliberate attacks on civilians.

Those targeted include Abdul Rahim Hamdan Dagalo, the RSF Deputy Leader and brother of RSF leader General Hemedti, as well as three other commanders that are suspected of involvement in these crimes – who all now face asset freezes and travel bans.

The RSF’s actions in El Fasher are not random: they are part of a deliberate strategy to terrorise populations and seize control through fear and violence. The impact of their actions is visible from space. Satellite images of El Fasher show blood-stained sand, clusters of bodies, and evidence of mass graves where victims have been burned and buried. There needs to be accountability for these actions, and urgent steps taken to avoid this happening again.

UK sanctioning of senior RSF commanders suspected of mass killings and sexual violence in El Fasher sends a clear message that those who commit atrocities will be held to account. This reflects the UK’s determination to prevent further atrocities.

The UK is also committing a further £21 million package of urgent support to communities on the brink, providing food, clean water, health care, and protection for women and children in areas hardest hit by violence.

This lifeline will empower aid organisations to reach 150,000 people with essentials like food, medical care, and emergency shelter, as well as to keep hospitals running and reconnect families torn apart by conflict. UK aid commitments to Sudan this year rises to £146 million, underscoring the unwavering commitment to stand with the Sudanese people and meet humanitarian needs.

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said:

“The atrocities taking place in Sudan are so horrific they scar the conscience of the world. The overwhelming evidence of heinous crimes – mass executions, starvation, and the systematic and calculated use of rape as a weapon of war – cannot and will not go unpunished.

“Today’s sanctions against RSF commanders strike directly at those with blood on their hands, while our strengthened aid package will deliver lifesaving support to those suffering.

“The UK will not look away, and we will always stand with the people of Sudan.”

The UK is pressing all parties to end the war and protect civilians and has repeatedly condemned the violence perpetrated by the RSF and Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF). Last month, the UN Human Rights Council adopted a UK-led resolution condemning the atrocities and securing international consensus to mandate an urgent inquiry into atrocities in El Fasher.

Our commitment goes beyond diplomacy:  the UK provides technical support to international justice and accountability mechanisms, and this year we also invested £1.5 million in the Sudan Witness Project to monitor, verify and document human rights violations including attacks on civilians.

We are exploring the possibility of further sanctions as part of our efforts to end impunity and demonstrate that those who commit atrocities are held to account.

The UK is accelerating its response to Sudan’s deepening crisis – acting decisively to save lives. The humanitarian situation in Sudan is the worst in the world, with 30 million people in desperate need of assistance. A further 12 million people have been driven from their homes. Famine and preventable diseases are rampant.

Nearly 5 million Sudanese refugees have fled the country to the region. Some are at risk of falling prey to traffickers and smuggling gangs. The UK is providing support to refugees in the region to help discourage perilous onward journeys.  

We call on all parties to the conflict to allow unhindered passage for humanitarian workers, supplies, and trapped civilians.

Background

The Sanctioned Individuals are:

• Abdul Rahim Hamdan Dagalo – Deputy Leader of the RSF, and brother of RSF leader, General Hemedti. There are reasonable grounds to suspect he is or has been implicated in mass killings of civilians, ethnically targeted executions, systematic sexual violence including gang rape, abductions for ransom, arbitrary detentions, and attacks on health facilities and humanitarian workers.
• Gedo Hamdan Ahmed – RSF Commander for the North Darfur. There are reasonable grounds to suspect he is or has been involved in mass killings, sexual violence, abductions, and attacks on medical and humanitarian personnel.
• Al-Fateh Abdullah Idris – Brigadier General of the RSF. There are reasonable grounds to suspect he is or has been responsible for violence against individuals based on ethnicity and religion, and the deliberate targeting of civilians.
• Tijani Ibrahim Moussa Mohamed – RSF Field Commander. There are reasonable grounds to suspect he is or has been responsible for deliberate targeting of civilians in El Fasher.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 11 December 2025.

Statement by Ambassador Archie Young, UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on Central Africa and UNOCA.

The United Kingdom remains steadfastly committed in our support for the work of UNOCA and its good offices. UNOCA’s role in early warning, preventive diplomacy, and regional coordination is critical.  

Today, I will make three points focused on the situations in Gabon, Cameroon and the impact of the Sudan conflict on peace and security in the region. I will not address today the very concerning situation in DRC, recognising that the Council will be considering the DRC specifically in our meeting tomorrow.  

First, the United Kingdom welcomes the completion in November of local, legislative and senatorial elections in Gabon. This is an important step, building on April’s presidential elections, which complete Gabon’s political transition. 

We encourage Gabon to continue building on the progress made by implementing necessary governance and electoral reforms to consolidate its democratic institutions.  

Second, the United Kingdom is concerned at continued violence and insecurity in Cameroon, including the recent post-election violence that saw loss of life. Conflict in the North-West and South-West regions continues to impact civilians. We welcome UNOCA’s efforts to promote dialogue. We urge continued engagement towards a peaceful resolution to the Anglophone crisis and call for a Cameroonian led dialogue. 

We also underscore the importance of regional cooperation to tackle Boko Haram and ISWAP threats in the Lake Chad Basin, including through the Multinational Joint Task Force. This is critical to support communities in Cameroon’s Far North region.     

Third, in addition to the dire impact on Sudanese civilians, the ongoing conflict in Sudan continues to destabilise the region, driving significant displacement of the local population and grave humanitarian needs. The UK commends the authorities in Chad for their efforts in hosting large numbers of refugees. 

We encourage continued international coordination to support civilians in the region and to press for an end to the conflict. The United Kingdom remains committed to supporting the UN’s humanitarian response including through the £125 million the United Kingdom has contributed to humanitarian support in Sudan this year.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 11 December 2025.

The UK reaffirms our thanks to Special Representative Dr Kari Johnstone for the work of her Office.

Thank you Chair and thank you, Special Representative, for your report. The UK recognises and welcomes the valuable contribution of your Office to anti-trafficking efforts across the OSCE region.

It is critical that we continue to monitor emerging risks of trafficking and exploitation resulting from conflicts and humanitarian crises. Russia’s war against Ukraine leaves many vulnerable, particularly women and children. Russian authorities have forcibly deported over 19,500 Ukrainian children to Russia or the temporarily occupied territories. We must strengthen protection measures, and we commend your Office’s efforts in supporting states to do so. With that in mind what innovative approaches can you see frontline actors adopting to detect and prevent trafficking during humanitarian and conflict crises, and how can these practices be scaled across the OSCE region?

In line with the UK’s commitment to UN Sustainable Development Goal Target 8.7, we work with international partners, including the OSCE, to eradicate modern slavery, forced labour, and human trafficking. We face increasingly complex forms of exploitation, including a rise in trafficking for forced criminality. The UK is proud to support your Office’s work on forced criminality in online scamming operations. We must enhance prevention, early identification, and reintegration for victims and survivors across the OSCE region.

We also welcome your Office’s efforts to include survivors and those with lived experience. Their voices and expertise are vital to tackling and preventing modern slavery. The UK is supporting UNDP to develop guidance for investors on engaging survivors in human rights due diligence and grievance mechanisms.

Special Representative, thank you again for your report. It highlights the impressive contributions of your Office and reminds OSCE states of the need for greater cooperation on this agenda. We look forward to continued UK engagement with your Office to support its valuable work.