The Banjul Forum, held alongside the 85th Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, has confirmed that the Sudanese army violated the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) by using banned chemical agents during the ongoing civil war.
According to a resolution adopted at the forum, credible reports confirmed the use of chemical weapons in Khartoum, Al-Jazirah, Sennar, and Darfur states. The Sudanese army, operating under the Port Sudan authority, allegedly deployed these weapons in multiple offensives since the conflict erupted in April 2023.
Sudan, which became a signatory to the CWC in 1992, is legally bound to destroy all chemical weapons and production facilities. The Forum stated that the army’s actions, under the leadership of General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, amount to a serious breach of international law and human rights obligations.
The Forum also criticized the Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs for its July 2025 statement denying the allegations, describing the response as “insufficient” and lacking measures for investigation or independent oversight. It urged Khartoum to ensure transparency and accountability in addressing these grave violations.
International condemnation has intensified. In May 2025, the United States announced sanctions against the Port Sudan authority after confirming the army’s use of chemical weapons in 2024. These measures include restrictions on U.S. exports and limits on Sudan’s access to global financial systems.
In October 2025, Human Rights Watch verified the use of chlorine gas by Sudanese forces, labeling the act a war crime under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The Banjul Forum’s decision marks a significant step for African civil society groups advocating justice for Sudan’s war crimes. The resolution will now be presented to the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights for further consideration, reinforcing the global ban on chemical weapons and demanding accountability for those responsible.