U.S. Announces Sanctions Against Sudan for Chemical Weapons Use

The United States announced plans to impose sanctions on Sudan’s military-led government after confirming its use of chemical weapons last year, according to the State Department.

The brief official statement did not specify the locations or methods of the chemical weapons deployment but confirmed that Congress had been informed of violations of the Chemical Weapons Convention, the global treaty banning such arms.

Earlier this year, reports indicated that Sudan’s military had deployed chemical agents, including chlorine gas, against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a powerful paramilitary faction battling for control within Sudan.

U.S. officials expressed concerns that these chemical weapons might be used in more populated areas, such as Khartoum, which remains contested between the rival forces.

The sanctions are scheduled to come into effect on June 6.

Sudan’s military government has yet to respond to the sanctions announcement, though it has previously denied any use of chemical weapons. Recently, the military appointed former United Nations official Kamel Idris as prime minister.

Many Sudanese remain doubtful about the U.S. claims, citing the absence of local reports on chemical weapons use. U.S. officials counter that the incidents involved limited-scale attacks in remote regions and had minimal battlefield impact.

This chemical weapons allegation marks a further escalation in Sudan’s devastating civil war, which began in April 2023 and has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths, displaced 13 million people, and triggered widespread famine.

Both conflicting parties face accusations of war crimes, though the RSF has also been accused by U.S. authorities of genocide. Earlier this year, sanctions were placed on the RSF leader, Lieutenant General Mohamed Hamdan.

Subsequently, sanctions were also imposed on Sudan’s army chief, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. U.S. officials have privately indicated that General al-Burhan authorized the chemical weapons use, although this information was only made public recently.

The new sanctions will restrict exports to Sudan and limit the country’s access to U.S. government loans, the State Department confirmed.

The U.S. government urged Sudan to cease the use of chemical weapons and emphasized its commitment to holding accountable those responsible for contributing to their proliferation.