SUDAN INSIGHT ALERT: Foreign Policy - U.S. Balked at Sanctions on Sudan

26/7/19: Foreign Policy - U.S. Balked at Sanctions on Sudan, by Robbie Gramer

 Current and former US officials have told Foreign Policy that the US halted plans to sanctions Himedti and his RSF over the June 3 massacre, in order to not upset the “fragile” power-sharing negotiations and “plunge [Sudan] into chaos.”

 Despite the US State Department’s denials, its special envoy for Sudan, Donald Booth, is reportedly one of the leading advocates of stopping sanctions.

 An anonymous US official said: “I don’t think we’re going to get an agreement the TMC will live up to unless we show them there will be consequences for violent crackdowns.” Without sanctions “there’s…no incentive” for the TMC or Himedti to relinquish power, said dormer US Treasury official Joshua White.

 With some experts and Sudanese activists fearing the political settlement gives the military time to cement its power, former US diplomat Cameron Hudson called for the US to align itself closer to the Forces of Freedom and Change.