WASHINGTON D.C. — The United States has officially imposed sweeping sanctions on Sudan’s government over its alleged use of chemical weapons during the country’s brutal civil war, which erupted in April 2023.
The sanctions took effect on Friday and will remain in place for at least one year, according to a notice published in the Federal Register.
The measures include strict restrictions on US exports, arms sales, and financial transactions with the government in Khartoum.
The Trump administration has also terminated most forms of US assistance to Sudan, with exceptions made only for urgent humanitarian aid and agricultural commodities.
“The United States calls on the Government of Sudan to cease all chemical weapons use and uphold its obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention,” the State Department said.
The move follows credible allegations that Sudan’s military deployed chemical weapons — believed to be chlorine gas — in its fight against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
The New York Times, citing US intelligence sources, reported in January that such attacks occurred at least twice in remote conflict zones.
Khartoum has denied the allegations, dismissing them as unfounded.
Sanctions Come Amid Escalating Humanitarian Crisis
The sanctions, though largely symbolic in some respects — both Sudanese army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo are already under US sanctions — reflect Washington’s deepening alarm over the deteriorating situation in Sudan.
The ongoing war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF has killed tens of thousands and displaced over 13 million people, making it the worst humanitarian crisis globally, according to the United Nations.
Partial Waivers for National Security
While the sanctions are comprehensive, the US has also partially waived some restrictions, citing national security concerns.
“Certain measures will be waived where it is essential to the national security interests of the United States,” the notice said, without providing further details.
The civil war, sparked by a breakdown in power-sharing between Burhan and Dagalo in April 2023, has left Sudan on the brink of collapse, with widespread reports of atrocities, mass displacement, famine, and systematic abuses.
Washington’s latest sanctions are part of a broader international push to pressure warring factions into a ceasefire and a return to civilian-led governance — efforts that so far remain elusive.
