Sudan Denies U.S. Accusations of Chemical Weapons Use as Sanctions Take Effect
By: TPA News Desk | editor@thepointafricanews.com The Sudanese government has rejected allegations made by the United States that its armed forces used chlorine gas during military operations in 2024. The accusations, which stem from a U.S. State Department determination in May 2025, have led to the enforcement of new American sanctions targeting Sudan’s transitional government. […]
The Sudanese government has rejected allegations made by the United States that its armed forces used chlorine gas during military operations in 2024. The accusations, which stem from a U.S. State Department determination in May 2025, have led to the enforcement of new American sanctions targeting Sudan’s transitional government.
The U.S. stated that its conclusion was based on classified intelligence indicating that chlorine gas was used in at least two incidents during Sudan’s civil conflict, in which the national military has been engaged in fighting with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Chlorine gas is prohibited as a chemical weapon under the Chemical Weapons Convention, to which Sudan is a signatory.
The U.S. sanctions, effective since June 6, restrict certain forms of aid and commercial engagement with Sudan. According to statements from the State Department, humanitarian assistance will remain unaffected.
Sudan’s Ministry of Information issued a formal response denying the use of chemical weapons and calling the allegations unfounded. The government announced the formation of a national committee to investigate the claims but has not invited international inspectors or observers to participate in the process.
The allegations first appeared in a report by The New York Times in January 2025, citing unnamed U.S. officials who claimed Sudanese forces had deployed chlorine gas in rural areas during the conflict. No independent verification from international organizations, including the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), has been confirmed as of the end of June.
The civil conflict in Sudan began in April 2023 following a breakdown in power-sharing between the Sudanese Armed Forces, led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the RSF, commanded by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo. The conflict has led to widespread violence, displacement, and humanitarian need, with millions of civilians affected across the country.
As of June 29, 2025, the Sudanese government maintains its position that no chemical weapons have been used by its forces, and U.S. officials have not publicly disclosed the specific locations or evidence involved in their findings. No international investigative mission has yet been deployed to confirm or disprove the allegations.
