NAIROBI, Kenya- The United States has announced new sanctions against Sudan following a formal determination that its government used chemical weapons during the country’s ongoing civil conflict in 2024—a charge strongly denied by Khartoum.
The sanctions, set to take effect by June 6, will restrict U.S. exports to Sudan and block government-backed lines of credit, according to State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce. The move comes under the Chemical and Biological Weapons Control and Warfare Elimination Act of 1991, a law that mandates punitive measures for chemical weapons use.
“The United States calls on the Government of Sudan to cease all chemical weapons use and uphold its obligations under the CWC,” Bruce said, referring to the Chemical Weapons Convention, a treaty that bans such warfare.
In a swift and defiant response, Sudan’s government dismissed the accusations as false and politically motivated. Government spokesperson Khalid al-Eisir said the decision “lacks any moral or legal basis” and further erodes the U.S.’s credibility in Sudan. “This interference… closes the door to any influence in Sudan,” he added.
The ongoing conflict in Sudan, which erupted in April 2023, has pitted the Sudanese army against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The power struggle has led to tens of thousands of deaths, widespread ethnic violence, and the displacement of 13 million people. Humanitarian agencies have described the situation as the world’s worst crisis, with many regions teetering on the edge of famine.
The U.S. has previously imposed sanctions on top Sudanese leaders, including army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, accusing them of choosing war over peaceful negotiations. On the opposing side, the U.S. has also found RSF and its allied militias responsible for genocide and sanctioned key figures such as RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, also known as Hemedti.
According to a January report by the New York Times, U.S. officials believe Sudan’s army used chlorine gas-based chemical weapons in remote areas at least twice. Chlorine, when weaponized, can cause irreversible damage to human tissue. However, Bruce did not detail the exact nature, timing, or location of the chemical attacks in her statement.
“The United States remains fully committed to hold to account those responsible for contributing to chemical weapons proliferation,” Bruce emphasized.
A Sudanese diplomatic source, quoted in response to the decision, claimed that the move was designed to divert attention from congressional scrutiny of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which has been accused of arming the RSF—allegations the UAE firmly denies.
The tension between Sudan and the UAE has escalated in recent weeks. Sudan recently severed diplomatic ties with Abu Dhabi, claiming it was involved in an attack on Port Sudan earlier this month. The UAE has rejected all allegations, saying it only supports humanitarian efforts.
The development adds another layer to the geopolitical complexity of the Sudanese conflict and raises further questions about foreign involvement and accountability in what has become one of the deadliest wars in recent history.
