The United States (US) on Monday imposed sanctions on Sudan’s Central Reserve Police (CRP) force for using violent measures against pro-democracy protesters, reported Africa News.
The US Treasury Department accused that the CRP, a heavily armed division of the Sudanese police force, used excessive force and was at the forefront of a deadly crackdown on peaceful protesters against military rule in the northeast African nation. It cited two documented cases of police shooting protesters.
The sanctions include blocking all property or interests in property of the police unit that are in or comes within the US, or that is in the possession or control of US persons, according to the Treasury Department.
“Since the October 25 military takeover, Sudan’s Central Reserve Police has used excessive force and violence intended to silence civilian activists and protesters,” the US Treasury undersecretary Brian Nelson said in a statement.
Nelson said the US condemned Sudan’s security services for killing, harassing, and intimidating Sudanese citizens. He said the actions are exacerbating the crisis in the country.
Protests have continued in Sudan since the military, led by army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, removed a civilian-led transitional government from power last year. The coup overturned Sudan’s transition to democratic rule after three decades of international isolation under former President Omar al-Bashir. Bashir was ousted from power in 2019 after a popular uprising.
Regular protests calling for civilian rule have continued since October’s military coup. The coup delayed a fragile power-sharing agreement between the army and civilians that had been negotiated after Bashir’s removal from power.
The protests with heavy-handed crackdowns have led to the death of 87 people so far, according to medics.
The military ruling body has said peaceful protests are allowed and that it will investigate protest-related casualties. They insist they will hand over power only to an elected government after elections are held next year.
In related news, the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has also called for an immediate end to violence against peaceful protesters.
