U.S. sanctions Sudanese finance minister, Islamist militia

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Treasury Department on Friday imposed sanctions on Sudan’s finance minister, Jibril Ibrahim, and the Islamist Al-Bara Bin Malik Brigade, citing their role in Sudan’s civil war and links to Iran.

Washington said the measures are intended to limit the influence of Islamist factions in Sudan and disrupt Iranian support to armed groups fighting alongside the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF).

“These sanctions aim to limit Islamist influence within Sudan and curtail Iran’s regional activities, which have contributed to regional destabilization, conflict, and civilian suffering,” the Treasury said in a statement.

The Treasury added that sanctions were being used to “disrupt this activity and protect U.S. national security,” describing the designations as part of a broader effort to block Sudan from becoming “a safe haven for those who threaten Americans and the national interests of the United States.”

The Al-Bara Bin Malik Brigade operates with semi-official sanction but no formal legal status, and has political ties to the former ruling National Congress Party and the broader Sudanese Islamic Movement.

The brigade’s profile rose further in April after a drone strike targeted an iftar gathering in Atbara, an incident this publication assessed as a false flag attack. The strike, which killed and wounded dozens, was used to portray the RSF as aggressors, and turned the brigade into a symbol of resistance for many SAF supporters.

Jibril, leader of the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), has served as Sudan’s finance minister since February 2021 under the Juba Peace Agreement. His faction of JEM aligned with the military in late 2023, operating under the “Joint Force” coalition rather than directly with SAF.

The Treasury accused him of collaborating with Iran to strengthen political and economic ties, noting a visit he made to Tehran in November.

“JEM has contributed thousands of its followers to fight the RSF, leading to the destruction of Sudanese towns and the deaths and displacement of thousands of Sudanese civilians,” it said.

The statement added. That  Jibril “has collaborated with the Iranian Government with the intent of strengthening political and economic ties and traveled to Tehran last November. “

Under the sanctions, all property belonging to Jibril and the Al-Bara Bin Malik Brigade under U.S. jurisdiction is blocked, and U.S. persons are barred from conducting transactions with them. Any entities owned 50 percent or more by the designated parties are also blocked.

The designations mark the first time Washington has directly targeted Islamist actors in Sudan since the outbreak of war in April 2023.

“The ultimate goal of sanctions is not to punish, but to bring about a positive change in behavior,” the Treasury statement said.