Sudanese tycoon sanctioned for financing Hamas protected by SAF leader

A Sudanese tycoon sanctioned by the US as a financier of Hamas was protected by the head of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), a leading opposition figure has told The National.

Abdelbasit Hamza was placed under sanctions by the US in the wake of the October 7 attack led by Hamas on Israel in 2023. The US has said that the 70-year-old was involved in the transfer of almost $20 million to a senior financial official of the Palestinian group.

Mr Hamza, who made his fortune in telecoms, was a key figure in the Sudanese regime of Omar Al Bashir and reportedly managed the financial affairs of his family. He was arrested, handed a 10-year jail sentence and had $1.2 billion worth of assets seized when Al Bashir was deposed in 2019.

Abdelbasit Hamza was among those placed under US sanctions over links to financing Hamas. Photo: US State Department

In the wake of the 2021 coup which brought Sudan's de facto leader Gen Abdel Fattah Al Burhan to power, Mr Hamza was released, along with several other Al Bashir allies, and had his assets restored.

Khalid Omer Yousif, a former minister and leading figure in the sidelined main civilian bloc, the Forces for Freedom and Change, told The National that Mr Hamza owes his freedom and wealth to Gen Al Burhan.

"After the revolution in Sudan, he was arrested because he was one of the main corrupt figures of the former regime," said Mr Yousif. "Then Al Burhan released him and I think secured a way out of Sudan for him, so this is an indication that he has links to them."

Mr Hamza is accused of using a network of companies in Sudan and Spain to launder money and generate revenue for Hamas, and/or managing numerous companies in the Palestinian group's investment portfolio.

The US State Department said he has “longstanding financing ties” to Al Qaeda and Osama bin Laden when he was placed under sanctions and declared a Specially Designated Global Terrorist in October 2023.

The department has offered $10 million for information leading to the disruption of his activities through its Rewards for Justice programme.

After Al Bashir was overthrown, a body known as the Empowerment Removal Committee (ERC) was set up to recover public funds that had been obtained illegally by members of his regime and those close to him.