US Imposes New Sanctions on Sudan Over Chemical Weapons Allegations

The United States has imposed new sanctions on Sudan's military-led government, accusing it of using chemical weapons in its ongoing conflict with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The measures, which took effect on Monday, include restrictions on US financing and exports, as well as a ban on Sudanese state-owned airlines using US airspace.

The US State Department said last month it had determined that "the government of Sudan used chemical weapons in 2024," in violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention, which Sudan ratified in 1999. Washington has not specified where or when the attacks occurred or identified the chemicals involved.

Coverage Comparison

Reporting on the sanctions has presented two distinct angles. Several reports focused on the US actions, detailing the allegations of chemical weapons use and the humanitarian impact of the conflict. Others highlighted Sudan's rejection of the accusations, emphasizing the country's commitment to international agreements and its cooperation with the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).

The sanctions were widely described as stemming from Sudan's alleged use of chemical weapons, with reports noting that the claims date back to 2024. In contrast, Sudanese officials have characterized the US move as politically motivated and based on what they describe as false allegations.

Key Claims

  • The US State Department determined that Sudan used chemical weapons in 2024, according to an official statement.
  • The sanctions restrict Sudan's access to US financing and exports and ban Sudanese state-owned airlines from US airspace, as reported by multiple outlets.
  • Sudan's army-aligned government rejected the allegations, calling them "unilateral and illegal" and "baseless," according to a statement reported by several sources.
  • The war between the Sudanese army and the RSF began in April 2023 after a power struggle between army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti.
  • The US has imposed sanctions on both al-Burhan and Hemedti, and has accused RSF commanders of committing genocide in Darfur.
  • Nearly 20 million people are facing acute food insecurity due to the conflict, according to UN data cited in one report.
  • Aid groups estimate that more than 200,000 people have been killed in the conflict, though specific figures were not provided in the reports.

Perspectives

Sudan's Government: The Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement expressing "outright rejection" of the sanctions, describing them as "unilateral and unlawful" and based on "false allegations." The ministry reaffirmed Sudan's commitment to the Chemical Weapons Convention and its cooperation with the OPCW, noting that Sudan is a member of the OPCW Executive Council. It said Washington "not only failed to provide credible evidence" but also disregarded the technical mechanisms stipulated under the convention. The statement argued that the sanctions are driven by "purely political motives" and recalled previous instances of US allegations involving prohibited weapons.

United States Government: The US State Department said it had determined that Sudan used chemical weapons in 2024, in violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention. The sanctions, which took effect Monday, include airspace bans and financing restrictions. The US has also imposed sanctions on both al-Burhan and Hemedti, and accused RSF commanders of genocide in Darfur. Washington has not publicly detailed the evidence behind the chemical weapons determination.