The U.S. State Department on Thursday formally accused Sudan’s military regime of deploying chemical weapons in its civil war against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), setting the stage for new sanctions and escalating tensions with the ruling junta.
“The U.S. has determined that the Government of Sudan used chemical weapons in 2024,” said State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce. “As a result, we will impose new sanctions, including restricting U.S. exports to Sudan and the Sudanese government’s access to U.S. government lines of credit.”
The determination, made on April 24 and delivered to Congress Thursday, triggers a 15-day notification period before sanctions take effect. The alleged violations of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) occurred during the brutal civil war that erupted in 2023 between Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) leader Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and RSF commander Mohammad Hamdan Daglo.
While the State Department did not detail the attacks, officials cited by the New York Times said chlorine gas was used twice in remote areas against RSF fighters, with fears the junta might escalate its use in more populated zones.
The Treasury Department sanctioned Burhan earlier this year for attacks on civilians and infrastructure. Though chemical weapons use was not specified, U.S. officials confirmed it factored into the decision.
Sudan’s military has dismissed the charges as “political blackmail.” Khalid al-Aiser, the junta’s information minister, accused the U.S. of spreading “a false narrative” and ignoring alleged RSF war crimes backed by the UAE.
The RSF has reportedly used Chinese-made weapons, allegedly funneled through the UAE in violation of a U.N. arms embargo. Amnesty International found evidence of GB50A guided bombs and Chinese drones used by the RSF in attacks.
The accusation further isolates Sudan’s military regime on the world stage, as international pressure mounts over the country’s spiraling humanitarian crisis. With over 700,000 people displaced and widespread reports of war crimes, the civil war has devastated infrastructure and left millions in urgent need of aid. The chemical weapons claim adds a grave new dimension to the conflict, potentially triggering broader international consequences and renewed calls for accountability at the United Nations.
