The United Kingdom has imposed severe sanctions on Brigadier General Al-Fateh Abdullah Idris, a Sudanese paramilitary commander widely known as Abu Lulu, following a BBC Verify investigation that exposed his direct involvement in the el-Fasher massacre. Video evidence confirmed by BBC Verify shows Abu Lulu executing at least ten unarmed captives with an assault rifle following the Rapid Support Forces’ (RSF) capture of the city in late October.
The UK Foreign Office has additionally sanctioned three other high-ranking RSF commanders: deputy leader Abdul Rahim Hamdan Dagalo (already under EU sanctions), Gedo Hamdan Ahmed, and Tijani Ibrahim Moussa Mohamed. These individuals stand accused of orchestrating ‘heinous’ acts including mass killings, systematic sexual violence, and deliberate targeting of civilians. All face comprehensive travel bans and asset freezes.
UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper condemned the atrocities in Sudan as ‘a scar on the conscience of the world,’ vowing that such crimes ‘cannot, and will not, go unpunished.’ The sanctions announcement coincided with a £21 million aid package for civilians affected by the conflict, providing essential food, shelter, and medical services.
The el-Fasher massacre represents one of the most brutal chapters in Sudan’s ongoing civil war, which erupted over two years ago following the collapse of the fragile ruling coalition between the RSF and the national army. The conflict has resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths and displaced millions. El-Fasher, the army’s final major stronghold in Darfur—the RSF’s traditional operational base—endured a protracted siege characterized by extreme brutality. BBC Verify documented RSF tactics including detention and torture of supply smugglers and construction of massive sand barriers to prevent civilian escape.
Satellite imagery from Yale University’s Humanitarian Research Lab revealed piles of bodies and mass graves throughout el-Fasher following the RSF takeover. In a subsequent public relations move, RSF leader Gen Mohamed ‘Hemedti’ Dagalo acknowledged troop ‘violations’ and announced investigations. Abu Lulu was briefly shown in a staged arrest video on RSF’s Telegram channel, though his current status remains unknown. His TikTok account, previously featuring propaganda content, was removed in October following BBC Verify’s inquiries.
The UK’s sanctions follow similar actions by the United States two days prior, targeting networks allegedly recruiting Colombian mercenaries for the Sudanese conflict. The US Treasury Department reported hundreds of Colombian fighters have joined the RSF as infantry and drone pilots since 2024. President Donald Trump recently pledged to address ‘tremendous atrocities’ in Sudan through coordinated efforts with Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.