Britain added six new individuals to its Sudan sanctions list on Thursday, according to an update published on the UK government’s website.

The move comes as Sudanese army deputy commander and Sovereign Council member Shams al-Din al-Kabbashi pledged to continue fighting what he described as a rebellion, while saying the return of displaced people was “approaching”.

At the same time, a group allied with the Rapid Support Forces said it had taken control of three towns in Blue Nile state, local sources said.

During a visit to camps hosting displaced people from Darfur and Kordofan, Kabbashi said the government had made the voluntary return of displaced civilians a top priority, following what he described as securing and “clearing” their areas and beginning reconstruction efforts.

The British government did not immediately provide further details on the latest sanctions listings.