An Indian citizen and his Chhattisgarh-based explosives manufacturing company are among eight persons and entities sanctioned by the United States on Friday for their alleged links to procurement and recruitment networks accused of fuelling the civil war in Sudan.

The civil war in Sudan between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces has killed tens of thousands of people since April 2023 and displaced nearly 1.4 crore persons.

In a statement issued on Friday, the US Treasury Department alleged that SBL Energy Limited supplied more than 200 shipments of explosives and explosives-related material since 2024 to Sudan-based Target Multiactivities Company Limited.

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The Sudanese firm is controlled by the Defense Industries System, the country’s largest defence enterprise, through the Giad Industrial Group, the statement said. The US has previously sanctioned both the Defense Industries System and the Giad Industrial Group.

The US alleged that Target Multiactivities Company Limited imported explosives and related material from Egyptian and Indian companies, including SBL Energy Limited. The explosives were subsequently used in bombs deployed by the Sudanese Armed Forces, it further alleged.

The US also sanctioned SBL Energy Limited’s chief executive officer, Alok Choudhari, who is an Indian citizen.

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Under the sanctions, all property and interests of the designated persons and entities within the US or under the control of US persons, are blocked. Transactions with them are generally prohibited unless authorised by the Office of Foreign Assets Control.

Violations of US sanctions may result in the imposition of civil or criminal penalties on American and foreign persons, the treasury department stated.

Edited by Sara Varghese.