The Sudanese government strongly condemned the US Treasury Department's decision to impose sanctions on Sudanese Armed Forces Leader General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, calling the move unjust and baseless.

In a statement released Thursday, Sudan’s Foreign Ministry rejected the sanctions, describing them as lacking "the most basic principles of justice and objectivity." The ministry asserted that the decision stemmed from "baseless justifications."

"This decision is a great disrespect to the Sudanese people, who stand fully behind their leader, the Armed Forces, and Commander Burhan, who leads the fight for honor against the terrorist Janjaweed (Rapid Support Forces - RSF) militias," the statement read.

The ministry questioned the timing of the sanctions, noting that the US administration had recently determined that the RSF was responsible for committing genocide in Sudan. The statement described the decision as "interesting" and reflective of "confusion and a weak sense of confidence" in Washington.

"The US administration's decision to impose sanctions on the commander of the armed forces, who defends the Sudanese people against the genocide plan, just days before the administration's term ends, reflects confusion," the statement added.

Sudan’s government accused the US of bias, claiming the decision to sanction Burhan supports "those committing genocide." It also described the move as "immoral" and vowed it would not deter the Sudanese people from resisting "terrorist militias."

The statement emphasized that the decision would not weaken the resolve or unity of the Sudanese people in their efforts to "cleanse this cancer from their land and return Sudan stronger than before."

The sanctions against Burhan follow recent US actions targeting the RSF and its leader, Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo. On Jan. 7, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced that Washington had concluded the RSF and allied militias were responsible for committing genocide in Sudan.

Blinken cited systematic attacks on civilians, including the targeting of women and girls from specific ethnic groups, as well as widespread abuse and violence. Sanctions were imposed on Dagalo for his role in these atrocities, with Blinken stressing the need to hold those responsible accountable.

The war in Sudan has drawn international condemnation, with reports of widespread violence and humanitarian crises. The Sudanese government’s latest statement underscores the growing tensions between Khartoum and Washington over the handling of the conflict and the imposition of sanctions. (ILKHA)