EU to Sanction Abdelrahim Dagalo, Targets RSF Leadership and Assets

European diplomats said the European Union moved on November 19 to sanction Abdelrahim Dagalo, the deputy commander of Sudan's Rapid Support Forces, advancing a package of targeted measures in response to alleged atrocities associated with the RSF offensive that included the takeover of al Fashir in Darfur. The measures being advanced by EU foreign ministers included travel bans to EU countries and freezes on any assets held within the bloc, diplomats said.

The move reflected growing alarm among European capitals about reports of mass killings, drone attacks, and violence that appeared to target ethnic communities as the wider conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF entered a renewed and intense phase. Diplomats described the sanctions as a step toward accountability and a signal that the EU would use financial and mobility restrictions to hold commanders and political backers to account for battlefield conduct.

Sources told Reuters there was broad consensus among EU capitals to approve the targeted sanctions, and related announcements from France and other European states signaled political support for coordinated action. The reporting, conducted by Reuters journalists John Irish and Andrew Gray and widely republished on November 19 and 20, noted that parallel sanctions and accountability efforts were under way by other Western countries, amplifying the diplomatic pressure on RSF leadership.

The sanctions are limited in scope to individuals and specific holdings rather than broad economic penalties for Sudan as a whole. Travel bans and asset freezes within the EU are designed to curtail access to European banking and financial services, reduce the ability to use European territory for logistics and movement, and stigmatize actors seen as responsible for serious human rights violations. Enforcement will require close monitoring of financial networks and cooperation from banks and member state authorities to identify and immobilize relevant funds and accounts.

Analysts said the decision fits a wider trend in Western policy toward targeted measures aimed at changing behavior without worsening civilian harm through blanket economic isolation. By singling out senior commanders, the EU aims to force reputational and operational costs on those deemed responsible while preserving channels for humanitarian assistance to civilians inside Sudan. At the same time the sanctions increase the risk of further fragmentation in the conflict if sanctioned figures seek alternate patronage networks and revenue streams outside Europe.

For markets and aid agencies, the immediate impact will be administrative and compliance related. Banks with exposure to Sudanese clients will face intensified due diligence obligations and potential restrictions on correspondent banking relationships. Humanitarian organizations warned that sanctions regimes need clear exemptions and guidance to avoid impeding lifesaving operations.

The EU move adds to a patchwork of international responses that include diplomatic isolation and investigations into alleged crimes. With foreign ministers advancing the measures, the next steps are formal adoption and publication of the specific listings, followed by implementation by member states. The sanctions underscore rising Western impatience with the conduct of combatants in Sudan and highlight the limited tools available to address a crisis whose humanitarian gravity continues to deepen.