On November 20, 2025, the European Union took a decisive step in response to the spiraling crisis in Sudan, announcing sweeping sanctions against Abdelrahim Hamdan Dagalo, the deputy commander of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The move, unveiled after a Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Brussels, marks the latest international effort to hold those responsible for atrocities in Sudan to account, as violence and displacement continue to devastate the country.
Abdelrahim Dagalo, often described as the RSF’s “second in command,” now faces an EU-wide travel ban and asset freeze. According to Anadolu Agency, these measures are designed to send a clear message. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas told reporters, “This sends a signal that the international community will come after those who are responsible.” She went on to warn, “The situation is deteriorating sharply. The capture of El Fasher by the Rapid Support Forces opens another devastating chapter in this war. The conflict has brought thousands of deaths and immense suffering.”
The sanctions specifically target Dagalo for his alleged direct involvement in the RSF’s October 2025 capture of El Fasher, a key city in the Darfur region. The EU’s official statement condemned the RSF for “deliberate targeting of civilians, ethnic killings, sexual and gender-based violence, and denial of humanitarian access.” Dagalo is explicitly linked to operations in El Fasher, where he allegedly ordered the killing and execution of civilians, further intensifying the already dire humanitarian crisis.
Born on January 1, 1972, in South Darfur to the Mahamid clan of the Arab Rizeigat tribe, Abdelrahim Dagalo’s rise is deeply entwined with Sudan’s turbulent history. He advanced through the Janjaweed militias during the Darfur crisis, eventually becoming a first sergeant and, later, a colonel when the RSF was formalized as a paramilitary force in 2013 under the leadership of his brother, Mohamed “Hemedti” Hamdan Dagalo. Beyond his battlefield role, Dagalo chairs the Junaid Group, a family conglomerate that dominates Sudan’s gold mining, transport, and infrastructure sectors—industries accused of fueling the RSF’s military operations through illicit revenues.
The EU’s action is not isolated. It echoes and builds upon a series of U.S. sanctions that began in September 2023, when the U.S. Treasury Department targeted Dagalo for his role in RSF-linked “massacre of civilians, ethnic killings, and use of sexual violence.” Those sanctions froze his U.S. assets and prohibited any American dealings with him. The U.S. has since expanded its measures: in May 2024, it sanctioned Central Darfur commander Ali Yagoub Gibril and operations head Osman Mohamed Hamid Mohamed for escalating assaults near El Fasher. By January 2025, RSF commander Mohamed “Hemedti” Hamdan Dagalo himself faced sanctions for command responsibility in genocide, along with seven UAE-based RSF firms linked to arms procurement. In November 2024, East Darfur’s Abdel Rahman Jumma was also sanctioned for civilian harms and ethnic attacks.
The context for these international sanctions is a civil war that has raged since April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the RSF. What began as a power-sharing dispute has spiraled into a full-blown conflict, with catastrophic consequences for the civilian population. According to multiple sources, including ChimpReports and Anadolu Agency, the war has claimed over 15,500 lives and displaced 12 million people. The fighting has also ignited famine across Darfur, compounding the suffering of those already traumatized by years of instability.
The fall of El Fasher in October 2025 was a particularly grim milestone. Thousands were forced to flee as the RSF advanced, and reports of mass atrocities quickly surfaced. The United Nations issued urgent warnings of potential mass atrocities, underscoring the gravity of the situation. The EU’s condemnation was unequivocal, denouncing the RSF’s “deliberate targeting of civilians, ethnic killings, sexual and gender-based violence, and denial of humanitarian access.” The bloc’s statement linked Dagalo directly to these operations, citing evidence that he ordered the killing and execution of civilians during the offensive.
In Brussels, Kaja Kallas did not mince words about the need for urgent action. She praised U.S.-led peace initiatives and called on both the RSF and the SAF to heed the calls from all 27 EU member states for “an immediate and lasting ceasefire.” As Kallas put it, “All 27 EU member states urged the parties to resume negotiations toward an immediate and lasting ceasefire.” She also welcomed broader international peace efforts, emphasizing the importance of halting the ongoing human suffering in Sudan.
The EU’s move is part of a broader international strategy to isolate and pressure those deemed responsible for atrocities in Sudan. The sanctions are meant not just as punitive measures, but as a warning to others who might consider similar actions. As Kallas explained, “The measure sends a signal that the international community will pursue individuals responsible for escalating violence in Sudan.”
While the EU’s focus on Sudan dominated the headlines, the Foreign Affairs Council meeting also addressed other pressing international crises. Kallas, for instance, commented on the situation in Gaza, describing the UN Security Council’s resolution endorsing a ceasefire and a 20-point plan for peace as a “game changer.” She noted that EU staff are already working at a coordination center to address humanitarian and security issues in the region. Additionally, the ministers discussed expanding the EU’s border monitoring mission in Rafah and the potential for the EU police support mission to train Palestinian police, with France pledging 100 officers for the effort.
Turning to Ukraine, Kallas reiterated the EU’s unwavering support for Kyiv. “The pressure must be on the aggressor, not on the victim. Rewarding aggression will only invite more of it,” she stated, outlining a two-pronged EU strategy: weakening Russia and supporting Ukraine. She highlighted that existing sanctions are significantly impacting Russia, with further measures under consideration, particularly targeting the so-called “shadow fleet” and its enablers.
But it was Sudan that remained at the heart of the day’s discussions. The EU’s condemnation of the RSF’s actions and its decision to sanction Abdelrahim Dagalo reflect a growing international consensus that accountability is essential to any lasting peace. With millions displaced, famine spreading, and reports of mass atrocities mounting, the stakes could hardly be higher. The hope, as expressed by Kallas and echoed by leaders across the EU and U.S., is that these measures will help stem the violence and push the warring parties toward meaningful negotiations.
As the conflict in Sudan grinds on, the world’s attention—and its resolve—are being tested. For now, the EU’s latest sanctions stand as a stark reminder that the international community is watching, and that those responsible for suffering and violence will not escape notice or consequence.
