In a significant development concerning international sanctions enforcement, Algoney Hamdan Dagalo Musa—brother of Sudanese paramilitary leader Mohamed Hamdan ‘Hemedti’ Dagalo—has been documented using a Kenyan passport and Emirati identification. The updated information was revealed in a recent memorandum from the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).
Based in Dubai, Algoney Dagalo serves as the primary weapons procurement officer for the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a group currently engaged in Sudan’s devastating civil war. His sanctioning by OFAC in October 2024 stemmed from his leadership role in supplying arms to perpetuate the conflict.
The disclosure of his Kenyan and Emirati credentials raises serious questions about international compliance with sanctions regimes. Kenya’s government maintains close ties with the United Arab Emirates, the principal sponsor of the RSF. This relationship has drawn increased scrutiny following Kenyan President William Ruto’s hospitality toward RSF leadership last February, when he hosted announcements regarding a parallel government in Sudan. President Ruto has additionally faced allegations of involvement in Hemedti’s gold trade operations, which finance the RSF’s activities.
According to OFAC investigations, Algoney Dagalo has managed front companies affiliated with the RSF that facilitate the importation of vehicles and military equipment into Sudan. These operations continue despite strict prohibitions preventing US citizens, businesses, and financial institutions from engaging with sanctioned individuals.
The updated sanctions memo coincided with additional OFAC actions targeting three RSF commanders responsible for the 18-month siege of el-Fasher, where documented atrocities include mass rapes, ethnically motivated killings, and systematic sexual violence. A recent UN investigation concluded that the RSF’s actions in el-Fasher bear “hallmarks of genocide.”
This development follows concerns raised by Sudanese-American organizations regarding the commander’s previous visit to Washington despite existing sanctions. US Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Cory Booker further amplified these concerns in a recent letter to top US officials, demanding an investigation into Algoney Dagalo’s travels and emphasizing that OFAC regulations generally prohibit designated persons from engaging with the US economy unless specifically authorized.
The conflict in Sudan, which began in April 2023, has created the world’s largest humanitarian crisis according to the UN, displacing over 13 million people and claiming tens of thousands of lives.