The US government has imposed sanctions on the head of Sudan's army and de facto president, Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. He has been leading one of the two sides in the 21-month civil war that has killed tens of thousands, uprooted over 12 million and pushed the country to the brink of famine.

The sanctions were announced earlier this week by the U.S. Treasury, which claimed the Sudanese military had used civilians as targets, with attacks on schools, markets, hospitals, and food supplies during the ongoing conflict in Sudan.

The United States has slapped Sudan’s army chief, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, with a sanction, accusing him of choosing war over negotiations. The US said that al-Burhan has thwarted every effort to bring an end to the conflict that has killed tens of thousands of people and driven millions from their homes.