Imposing Sanctions on Certain Persons Destabilizing Sudan and Undermining the Goal of a Democratic Transition
The order substantially expands a national emergency over Sudan — first declared in 1997 — to address the military's 2021 seizure of power and the outbreak of armed fighting in April 2023, imposing immediate asset-blocking sanctions and U.S. entry bans on foreign persons who destabilize Sudan or obstruct its democratic transition.
It is the first expansion of this emergency to create a broad categories-based sanctions regime targeting corruption, serious human rights abuses, attacks on civilians, and obstruction of humanitarian and UN missions — putting named individuals and entities at risk of having U.S.-held assets frozen and being barred from entering the country.
What this order does
What it orders
The order expands the scope of the national emergency declared over Sudan in 1997 and directs the Secretary of the Treasury, consulting with the Secretary of State, to block the U.S.-held property and property interests of foreign persons determined to have destabilized Sudan, obstructed a democratic transition, committed serious human rights abuses, engaged in corruption, targeted civilians, or interfered with UN missions. It also suspends U.S. entry — as immigrants or nonimmigrants — for any noncitizen meeting those criteria, with the Secretary of State and Secretary of Homeland Security handling implementation of visa and entry procedures respectively. Once the Secretary of State determines a civilian transitional government has been formed, the National Security Council is directed to coordinate executive branch efforts to mobilize international support for that government.
The order carves out transactions for official U.S. Government or United Nations business and preserves prior Sudan-related orders from 2017. It does not itself designate any specific individual or entity; actual sanctions designations are made by the Secretary of the Treasury on a rolling basis using the criteria the order establishes.
Who it affects
Foreign individuals and entities — including Sudanese military and paramilitary leaders, corrupt officials, human rights abusers, and their adult family members and business associates — who may be designated and face frozen U.S. assets and U.S. entry bans. U.S. persons and businesses are prohibited from transacting with designated parties.
Why it matters
Anyone designated under this order loses access to U.S.-held assets and cannot enter the United States. U.S. banks, businesses, and individuals face legal liability if they conduct transactions with designated persons, creating financial isolation for those named. The framework is designed to pressure armed actors in an active conflict.
What must happen and when
How the order is supposed to work
The order itself creates the blocking and entry-ban framework immediately; actual sanctions take effect person-by-person as the Treasury Secretary makes designations using the listed criteria. No prior notice to targets is required. Treasury is authorized to promulgate implementing rules and redelegate functions within the department. The Secretary of State determines when a civilian transitional government exists — the trigger for a second phase in which the NSC coordinates broader diplomatic and development support. All federal agencies must take appropriate steps to implement the order within their existing authority.
Actions and deadlines
- Secretary of the Treasury to promulgate rules and regulations implementing the sanctions framework
- Secretary of State to establish visa-suspension procedures for designated noncitizens
- Secretary of Homeland Security to establish entry-ban procedures for designated noncitizens
- Secretary of State to determine whether a civilian transitional government has been formed in Sudan
- Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs to coordinate executive branch actions supporting civilian transitional government once formed