US Imposes Strict Sanctions on Military Industrialization Director Lt. Gen. Mirghani Idris

The US Treasury Department imposed strict sanctions on Thursday, on the Director of the Defense Industries System, Lt. Gen. Mirghani Idris Suleiman, for his involvement in arms deals with Iran and Russia.

The US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) stated that the decision was issued due to Mirghani Idris’ leadership of the Sudanese Armed Forces’ efforts to obtain weapons for use in its ongoing war with the Rapid Support Forces.

The (OFAC) added: “Idris was at the center of the arms deals that fueled the brutality and scope of the war, as he served as the Director General of the Defense Industries System (DIS), the primary arm of the Sudanese Armed Forces’ arms production and procurement.”

The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated the Defense Industries System (DIS) on June 1st, 2023, for being responsible for, complicit in, or directly or indirectly engaged in or attempting to engage in acts or policies that threaten the peace, security, or stability of Sudan.

The (OFAC) went on to state: “Since the beginning of the war, the Sudanese Armed Forces have prioritized arms acquisitions, including Iranian drones and a ports-for-arms agreement with Russia, have chosen to expand the conflict rather than end it through good-faith negotiations. The weapons and diplomatic support that Iran and Russia have provided to the Sudanese Armed Forces have emboldened them and diminished their interest in de-escalating the conflict.”

The Acting Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, Bradley T. Smith stated: “Today’s action underscores the essential role that key individuals like Mirghani Idris Suleiman have played in procuring weapons, perpetuating violence, and prolonging the fighting in Sudan. The United States is committed to disrupting the ability of both sides in this conflict to procure weapons and external financing that undermine the possibility of a peaceful resolution.”