Complicit Dossier

Command, allied forces and mobilisation · person (commander, Sudan Shield Forces) · Sudan

Abu Aqla Keikal

بو عاقلة كيكل · أبو عاقلة محمد كيكل – قائد قوات درع السودان

  • Allied force or mobilisation network
  • Grade A: Official recordStrongest record: official record
  • Sanctioned byEUUK
  • 1 documented tie · 2 steps from the SAF

Also recorded as: Abu Aqla KAKIL; Abu Aqla KEIKAL; Abu Aqla KEIKEL; Abu Aqla KIKAL; Abu Aqla Mohamed Ahmed KAIKAL; Kaikal Abu Aqla Mohamed Ahmed; Abu Aqla Mohamed KAIKAL; Abu Agla Keikal (commander, Sudan Shield Forces)

EU sanctioned Keikal on 18 Jul 2025 (attacks on Kanabi communities in Gezira); UK sanctioned him in Feb 2026 over atrocities suspected in early 2025 in Gezira.

Their response

  • DENIED. Sudan Shield spokesperson (Darfur24, 19 Jul 2025, https://www.darfur24.com/2025/07/19/%D9%82%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%AF%D8%B1%D8%B9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D9%88%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%AA%D8%B1%D9%81%D8%B6-%D8%B9%D9%82%D9%88%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AA%D8%AD%D8%A7%D8%AF-%D8%A7/): the EU 'فشل في تقديم أي أدلة موثوقة تثبت الادعاءات الموجهة ضد كيكل'. Sudan's Foreign Ministry also rejected the listing (Dabanga headline).

Records

2

Each record carries its own grade. A grade describes the source for that record, not the actor.

Grade C: Single source

Abu Agla Keikal (commander, Sudan Shield Forces)

EU sanctioned Keikal on 18 Jul 2025 (attacks on Kanabi communities in Gezira); UK sanctioned him in Feb 2026 over atrocities suspected in early 2025 in Gezira.

Why this grade
Press report of an official act. The primary record is cited in another record for this actor.
Response
DENIED. Sudan Shield spokesperson (Darfur24, 19 Jul 2025, https://www.darfur24.com/2025/07/19/%D9%82%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%AF%D8%B1%D8%B9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D9%88%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%AA%D8%B1%D9%81%D8%B6-%D8%B9%D9%82%D9%88%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AA%D8%AD%D8%A7%D8%AF-%D8%A7/): the EU 'فشل في تقديم أي أدلة موثوقة تثبت الادعاءات الموجهة ضد كيكل'. Sudan's Foreign Ministry also rejected the listing (Dabanga headline).
Source
Qatar-funded; generally seen as closer to the SAF/government narrative
  1. 1Al Jazeera Net · ajnet.me · 5 Feb 2026

NamesSudan Shield

1 more record below grade A (corroborated, single-source or unverified). Change “Evidence shown” to see it.

1 more record at grade C (single source) or D (unverified lead). Change “Evidence shown” to see it.

Checked against the document

2

Statements compared with the wording of the primary document.

  • “he is or has been responsible for, engaging in, providing support for, or promoting the commission of serious violations of international humanitarian law in Sudan, namely grave breaches such as violence against persons, specifically the Kanabi people, on the basis of their ethnicity or religious beliefs.”

    UK Sanctions List, SUD00275 Feb 2026verified verbatim

  • “Abu Aqla Mohamed Ahmed Kaikal is a Sudanese Military Commander who served in the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the Jazira state in Sudan until he defected to the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) in October 2024. In December 2023, he was appointed by the RSF as Governor of the Jazira state, after the RSF violently took over that area.”

    Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/1480, Annex, A.1118 Jul 2025verified verbatim

Relationships

1

← means the other party acts on this one; → means this one acts on the other.

Ownership and control · 1

Weapons, sites and other subjects

2

Recorded links to things, places, events and authorities rather than to organisations or people.

  • From European Union

    sanctioned (Reg. 2025/1480) · 2025-07-18

    Grade A: Official record

  • From United Kingdom

    sanctioned (SUD0027) · 2026-02-05

    Grade A: Official record

Sanctions listings

2

  • European Union18 Jul 2025EU.13472.9

    ›Stated reason

    Abu Aqla Mohamed Ahmed Kaikal is a Sudanese Military Commander who served in the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the Jazira state in Sudan until he defected to the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) in October 2024. In December 2023, he was appointed by the RSF as Governor of the Jazira state, after the RSF violently took over that area. The RSF is responsible for attacking cities and humanitarian hubs in the Jazira state, leading to massive displacement of civilians, hunger, shortage of medicines and impediment of humanitarian aid. Jazira state specifically has been a centre of violence committed by the RSF during Kaikal’s governorship. Therefore, Abu Aqla Mohamed Ahmed Kaikal is responsible for actions and policies that threaten the peace, stability and security of Sudan. In addition, he is responsible for directing acts in Sudan that constitute serious human rights violations, and for [...]

  • United Kingdom5 Feb 2026SUD0027

    ›Stated reason

    The Secretary of State considers that there are reasonable grounds to suspect that Abu Aqla Mohamed Kaikal is an involved person under the Sudan (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 because he is or has been responsible for, engaging in, providing support for, or promoting the commission of serious violations of international humanitarian law in Sudan, namely grave breaches such as violence against persons, specifically the Kanabi people, on the basis of their ethnicity or religious beliefs. sanctionslist.fcdo.gov.uk

Geography

Tags come from the recorded jurisdiction and from place names in the records. Coordinates on the map are approximate.

Based in
Sudan
Places
Wad Madani / Gezira

Position in the network

Derived by analysing the documented relationships. Nothing in this section is a finding.

Still connected to the SAF when only official records are counted.