Council Decision (CFSP) 2025/1481 of 18 July 2025 amending Decision (CFSP) 2023/2135 concerning restrictive measures in view of activities undermining the stability and political transition of Sudan

Official Journal EN of the European Union L series 2025/1481 18.7.2025 COUNCIL DECISION (CFSP) 2025/1481 of 18 July 2025 amending Decision (CFSP) 2023/2135 concerning restrictive measures in view of activities undermining the stability and political transition of Sudan THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty on European Union and in particular Article 29 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Whereas: (1) On 9 October 2023, the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2023/2135(1). (2) On 27 November 2023, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy issued a statement on behalf of the Union, in which the Union and its Member States reiterated their strong condemnation of the continuous fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and their respective affiliated militias. The statement also deplored the dramatic escalation of violence and the irreparable cost to human life in Darfur and throughout the country, as well as violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law. (3) In view of the gravity of the situation, two individuals and two entities should be included in the list of natural and legal persons, entities or bodies set out in the Annex to Decision (CFSP) 2023/2135. (4) Decision (CFSP) 2023/2135 should therefore be amended accordingly, HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: Article 1 The Annex to Decision (CFSP) 2023/2135 is amended in accordance with the Annex to this Decision. Article 2 This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. Done at Brussels, 18 July 2025. For the Council The President M. BJERRE (1) Council Decision (CFSP) 2023/2135 of 9 October 2023 concerning restrictive measures in view of activities undermining the stability and political transition of Sudan (OJ L, 2023/2135, 11.10.2023, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2023/2135/oj). ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2025/1481/oj 1/5ANNEX The Annex to Decision (CFSP) 2023/2135 is amended as follows: (1) under heading ‘A. List of natural persons referred to in Article 1(1) and in Article 2(1)’, the following entries are added: Name Identifying information Reasons Date of listing ‘11. Abu Aqla Mohamed Ahmed Nationality: Sudanese Abu Aqla Mohamed Ahmed Kaikal is a Sudanese Military Commander who 18.7.2025 KAIKAL served in the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the Jazira state in Sudan until he Gender: male defected to the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) in October 2024. In December Function: Commander of a SAF-affiliated 2023, he was appointed by the RSF as Governor of the Jazira state, after the RSF militia violently took over that area. The RSF is responsible for attacking cities and humanitarian hubs in the Jazira state, leading to massive displacement of civilians, Associated entities: SAF hunger, shortage of medicines and impediment of humanitarian aid. Jazira state specifically has been a centre of violence committed by the RSF during Kaikal’s governorship. Therefore, Abu Aqla Mohamed Ahmed Kaikal is responsible for actions and policies that threaten the peace, stability and security of Sudan. In addition, he is responsible for directing acts in Sudan that constitute serious human rights violations, and for obstructing the delivery of, access to and distribution of humanitarian assistance in Sudan. 2/5 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2025/1481/oj EN OJ L, 18.7.2025Name Identifying information Reasons Date of listing 12. Hussein BARSHAM Nationality: Sudanese Hussein Barsham is a Military Field Commander of the Rapid Support Forces 18.7.2025’ (RSF), an organisation that has been accused by international non-governmental Gender: male organisations of ethnic cleansing and even genocide against the Masalit tribe and Function: Military Field Commander of the RSF other non-Arab groups in Darfur. Associated entities: RSF; Misseria tribe As a Commander, Hussein Barsham has led RSF soldiers in the capture of the Baleela airport from the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), and the capture of localities in the West Kordofan state, such as Meiram. He has played a leading role in RSF operations that have resulted in mass atrocities, including targeted killings, ethnic violence, forced displacement and violence against civilians, particularly in Darfur and other conflict-affected regions of Sudan. Under his command, RSF forces have been involved in mass killings and atrocities. Barsham has been engaged in the fighting in the Kordofan region. He has led attacks on several localities and has been present at the sites of atrocities and mass executions committed by soldiers under his command. Such acts constitute war crimes. Hussein Barsham is therefore responsible for actions that threaten the peace, stability and security of Sudan. He is also responsible for undermining efforts to resume the political transition in Sudan and for directing or committing acts in Sudan that constitute serious human rights violations or abuses or violations of international humanitarian law. ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2025/1481/oj 3/5 OJ L, 18.7.2025 EN(2) under heading ‘B. List of legal persons, entities or bodies referred to in Article 2(1)’, the following entries are added: Name Identifying information Reasons Date of listing ‘7. Alkhaleej Bank Co Ltd Address: Albaraka Tower, 6th Floor, 1 Al Qasr, Alkhaleej Bank Co Ltd (“Alkhaleej”) plays an essential role in the Rapid Support 18.7.2025 Khartoum, Sudan Forces’ (RSF) efforts to finance its own operations, complicating efforts to stop the a.k.a.: fighting in Sudan. Alkhaleej is largely owned by companies linked to family Website: https://al-khaleejbank.com/alkhaleej/ Khaleej Bank; members of RSF Commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti) and is Type of entity: Financial institution therefore considered to be controlled by the RSF. Al Rowad Bank For Development & Investment; Registration number: SUDAN-EO14098 Before and during the war, the RSF has established complex financial networks using profits from its gold business to fund weapons, salaries and media Al Rowad Bank For Principal place of business: Khartoum, Sudan campaigns, and to gain political support. It controls a network of up to 50 Development And Investment; companies, including Alkhaleej, which became a key financier and received USD Associated individuals or entities: Mustafa 50 million from Sudan’s Central Bank in March 2023. Furthermore, Alkhaleej has Al-Khaleej Bank; Ibrahim Abdel Nabi Mohamed, designated by international banking ties that allow the RSF to operate within the global financial the Union on 24.6.2024; Musa Hamdan ﺞﻴﻠﺨﻟﺍ ﻚﻨﺑ system. Hemedti’s network reportedly owns a significant portion of Alkhaleej, Dagalo Musa, brother of RSF Commander with some estimates suggesting majority control. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo; Shield Protective Solutions Co. Ltd. (Sudan) The RSF’s business activities span multiple sectors, including transport, construction, agriculture and banking, making Hemedti one of Sudan’s wealthiest and most powerful figures. Alkhaleej plays a crucial role in those operations, offering a direct or indirect financial lifeline to the RSF. As a key financier and facilitator of the RSF and its armed attacks and actions, Alkhaleej Bank Co Ltd is therefore engaging directly or indirectly in providing support to, or benefitting from, actions or policies that threaten the peace, stability or security of Sudan. 4/5 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2025/1481/oj EN OJ L, 18.7.2025Name Identifying information Reasons Date of listing 8. Red Rock Mining Company Address: Blok 9, Kafory, Khartoum, Sudan Red Rock Mining Company is a mining and exploration company. Its parent 18.7.2025’ company is SMT Engineering (SMT), which is subject to restrictive measures by a.k.a. Red Rock Ltd Telephone: + 249 1203 47711 the Union, the United States and the United Kingdom. SMT is a major joint Website: https://redrockmining.co/contact-us/# shareholder, along with the Defense Industries System (DIS), in three companies involved in the production of weapons and vehicles for the Sudanese Armed Email: corporate@redrockmining.net Forces (SAF). info@redrocksd.com The mining sector is of particular importance for the fuelling of conflict. Mining areas are often linked to war zones and represent strategically important sites to Type of entity: mining company conquer for the conflict parties, increasing competition and tensions. Red Rock Date of registration: 1960s Mining Company is present and active in Sudan. It further holds a concession near al Damazin, which was taken over by the SAF in 2012. Registration number: Group ID: 16463 Red Rock Mining Company provides funding to the armed groups behind the Principal place of business: United Arab Sudanese conflict, most prominently to the SAF. Red Rock Mining Company has Emirates a 99 % shareholding in Advanced Mining Works, which is part of the Address: Office 320, Emarat Atrium Building, multi-sectoral network of corporations and shareholdings headed by the parent Business Bay, Dubai, United Arab Emirates company GIAD. GIAD is involved, among others, in the production of weapons and vehicles for SAF, as well as in the provision of services. The GIAD Associated individuals or entities: SMT conglomerate is controlled by the SAF via the DIS. Engineering Red Rock Mining Company is therefore an entity providing support to actions or policies that threaten the peace, stability and security of Sudan. It is also associated with designated individuals and entities. ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2025/1481/oj 5/5 OJ L, 18.7.2025 EN