UK sanctions individuals and entities financing Sudan war
The UK announced sanctions on individuals and entities financing the war in Sudan. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper was interviewed about the measures.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
UK sanctions target individuals and gold trade financing Sudan war
The UK government has announced sanctions on individuals and entities suspected of financing the war in Sudan, which is principally between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The sanctions also target the sale of gold used to fund the conflict. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper defended the measures in an interview, saying they aim to "shine a spotlight on the war economy that is driving Sudan's conflict" and to put pressure on those profiting from the war.
Cooper said the sanctions identify 11 individuals and organizations, all Sudanese, operating in gold markets in Dubai and Hong Kong. She acknowledged that gold is easy to evade sanctions but argued the measures are important to highlight how illicit finance flows back into the conflict. When asked whether sanctions could worsen the humanitarian crisis, she insisted they would not affect humanitarian support, as they target only those profiting from the war.
The interview also touched on why the UK is not sanctioning the UAE, which has been accused of supplying the RSF. Cooper replied that some of the sanctioned individuals and companies operate through gold markets in Dubai, and that is why they are being targeted. She also mentioned gold markets in Hong Kong.
The announcement comes as the war in Sudan enters its third year, with widespread atrocities and a severe humanitarian crisis. Cooper described Sudan as "the most desperate place I have ever been." The sanctions are part of a broader UK effort to address the conflict, though critics question their effectiveness given the ease of evading gold-related sanctions.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | Channel 4 |
|---|---|
| UK imposed sanctions on 11 Sudanese individuals and entities involved in gold sales financing the war in Sudan, and said humanitarian support would not be affected. |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
Channel 4's coverage centered on an interview with Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, pressing her on the effectiveness of the sanctions, the omission of the UAE, and the risk of worsening the humanitarian situation. The tone was critical and inquisitive, highlighting potential gaps in the sanctions regime and the difficulty of targeting gold trade.
- “All we want to do is to shine a spotlight on the war economy that is driving Sudan's conflict”
- “None of this is going anywhere near people in Sudan. None of this is going anywhere near Humanitarian support”
- “the individuals and the companies that we are sanctioning some of those are operating through the gold markets in Dubai and that is They are being targeted for that”
Broadcast Timeline
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