By Introduction
As the world’s attention continues to drift from Sudan’s forgotten war, a powerful voice has risen from the shadows of captivity—demanding justice, accountability, and the enforcement of human rights. That voice belongs to Yaslam Altayeb, a UK resident, Dutch citizen, and founder of The Right Narrative, a platform born from pain, resistance, and the pursuit of truth.
Today, Yaslam Altayeb is no longer just a survivor—he is a symbol of resilience and a leading voice in the international push to sanction perpetrators of unspeakable crimes in Sudan. His recent application to the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and the Dutch Foreign Ministry, calling for sanctions against senior RSF and UAE officials, marks a historic step in exposing the machinery behind one of Africa’s most devastating proxy wars.
The Ordeal: Captivity Under the RSF
On tense day in April 2023, just days after the outbreak of war in Sudan, Yaslam Altayeb left his home in the Riyadh district of Khartoum in search of food—an everyday necessity turned into a perilous gamble amid chaos. Unarmed and unaware of the nightmare ahead, Yaslam was seized by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), the paramilitary militia responsible for launching a war that has since displaced over 13 million people and left more than 150,000 dead.
His only crime? Being a foreign national, a businessman, and a man of principle.
For weeks, Yaslam endured severe torture, inhumane detention conditions, psychological abuse, and degrading treatment at the hands of RSF officers. He was held incommunicado, beaten in the back and neck—injuries that to this day cause him chronic pain. His diabetes worsened under malnourishment and trauma. Sleep became a foreign concept, his dreams haunted by the screams of other captives and the ghosts of war. He was among those who survived. Many didn’t.
Two RSF officers—Ali Dakharo, notorious for overseeing assassinations, and Major Hamudi Suliman Mohamed Osman, who supervised the detention site—were directly involved in Yaslam’s abuse. Both are now named in the formal sanctions application submitted by his legal counsel.
The Legal Battle: Seeking Sanctions, Seeking Justice
On July 16, 2025, Yaslam Altayeb’s legal team, led by international human rights barrister Rodney Dixon KC, filed a formal sanctions application to the UK Government and the Dutch Foreign Ministry. This application is not just a document—it is a damning indictment of a well-orchestrated machinery of violence that stretches from the RSF’s military bases in Darfur to the palaces of Abu Dhabi.
The request urges the UK and Dutch governments to sanction 23 individuals—a network that includes top RSF generals and two senior UAE officers believed to be key enablers of the RSF’s terror campaign. The application is backed by irrefutable evidence of physical abuse, torture, forced detention, and the documented involvement of foreign powers in sustaining the RSF war machine.
At the top of this list is Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, alias Hemedti, the RSF leader previously accused by Human Rights Watch of crimes against humanity. His deputy and brother, Abdel-Raheem Dagalo, is also named. These men did not act alone. Alongside them are other generals, financiers, and collaborators who directed the RSF’s mass campaign of rape, ethnic cleansing, and terror.
Crucially, two of the named RSF officers are based in the United Kingdom—a chilling reminder that those who commit atrocities abroad often enjoy comfort and impunity in the West.
The UAE’s Hidden Hand
Beyond the RSF, the application targets senior officers from the United Arab Emirates—a state that has increasingly positioned itself as both kingmaker and war broker across Africa. The UAE’s financial and military support for the RSF has been widely reported by The New York Times, The Guardian, and multiple international watchdogs.
Weapons supplied via Chad and Libya. Mercenaries recruited with Gulf money. Gold smuggled in exchange for drones and armored trucks. This is not a rogue militia—it is a mercenary force outsourced by the UAE to destroy Sudan’s national army and control its resources. And Yaslam Altayeb is one of countless civilians who paid the price.
“The suffering I endured stands as a testament to the cruelty and abuse of so many at the hands of the RSF, which was aided and abetted by the UAE,” Altayeb declared. “There is no excuse for inaction. The UK must act immediately to sanction those responsible.”
Rodney Dixon KC: “The UK Must Not Stand Idly By”
In his official statement, Rodney Dixon KC underscored the severity of the crimes committed:
“The abuse Mr Altayeb suffered is deep and severe. These are not isolated incidents. They reflect a widespread, systematic campaign of terror carried out with impunity by the RSF, with the full backing of foreign actors. The UK must apply sanctions now. Failure to act is complicity.”
The call is clear: the UK Government, under Foreign Secretary David Lammy, must use its legal powers under the Global Human Rights Sanctions Regulations 2020 to designate and penalize the perpetrators. These regulations were created for moments like this—to hold human rights violators accountable regardless of borders, uniforms, or bank accounts.
A Personal Journey, A Global Mission
From the depths of an RSF prison cell to the frontline of international advocacy, Yaslam Altayeb has transformed his personal tragedy into a relentless mission. His platform, The Right Narrative, was born from this very pain—to expose what global media often ignores, to give voice to the silenced, and to build a new generation of truth-tellers and justice seekers.
His captivity is not just a story of individual suffering; it is a microcosm of Sudan’s larger tragedy. It is the story of a nation betrayed by its supposed Arab brothers, forgotten by the West, and brutalized by mercenaries paid to do the dirty work of foreign regimes.
Yaslam’s application is the beginning—not the end. As the founder of The Right Narrative, he now champions the cause of those still in captivity, those still suffering, and those who may never return.
Conclusion: A Test for the UK’s Conscience
The United Kingdom has a choice to make. Will it allow war criminals and their enablers to travel freely, invest in London real estate, and sponsor football clubs in Manchester while Sudanese children starve and women are sold as slaves? Or will it take a moral stand and enforce its own laws?
The eyes of Sudanese survivors, of human rights defenders, and of millions of displaced civilians now turn to Westminster. The story of Yaslam Altayeb is not just a personal reckoning—it is a call to global justice.
The Right Narrative will continue to investigate, expose, and advocate—until justice is not just demanded but delivered.
If you believe in justice, share this story. Use your voice. Demand sanctions.
#JusticeForSudan #SanctionRSF #UAEInSudan #TheRightNarrative #YaslamAltayeb #WarCrimes #DavidLammy #FCDO #SudanProxyWar