Sudan: Military Chief Freezes Bank Accounts Of Paramilitary Amid Truce Negotiations

Sudan’s military chief has ordered the freezing of all bank accounts belonging to a rival paramilitary force.

The two sides have battled for weeks across Sudan, pushing the troubled country to the brink of all-out war.

The decree, signed on Sunday by Gen. Abdel Fattah Burhan, will target the Rapid Support Forces' official accounts in Sudanese banks, as well as the accounts of all companies affiliated with the group, according to the state news agency SUNA.

It is unclear what immediate impact the freezing will have on the RSF and how Burhan's orders will be carried out.

The military head also announced the replacement of Sudan's Central Bank Governor, a move that is likely related to the freezing edict.

The RSF gained a vast fortune over the last decade by gradually acquiring Sudanese financial institutions and gold reserves.

Since mid-April, the Sudanese army, led by Burhan, and the RSF, led by Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, have been at odds, forcing hundreds to flee to neighbouring nations.

Since the battle began, much of the country has devolved into chaos. Khartoum's capital has been turned into an urban battlefield, while the western Darfur region has been devastated by deadly ethnic fighting. 

According to the WHO, the violence has also killed over 600 individuals, including civilians.

Human rights organizations have accused the RSF of rampant looting and attacking people, and the military of bombing residential areas indiscriminately.

Since the fighting began, the two sides have agreed to multiple brief cease-fires, all of which have been breached. Both have also traded accusations of human rights violations and traded blame.

The military and the RSF inked a contract last Thursday in the Saudi city of Jeddah, providing safe passage for civilians escaping the fighting and safety for humanitarian activities in the East African country. 

International efforts are ongoing, led by Saudi Arabia and the United States, to turn Thursday's deal into a long-term truce.