The United States has officially enforced sanctions on Sudan’s government, citing the use of chemical weapons by Khartoum’s military during the brutal civil war that erupted in April 2023. The measures, announced last month by the State Department and now effective following publication in the Federal Register, target Sudan’s access to U.S. exports, arms, and financing.
According to Washington, the Sudanese military deployed chemical agents allegedly chlorine gas on at least two occasions in its conflict with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The New York Times first reported the use of chemical weapons in January, referencing unnamed U.S. officials who said the attacks occurred in remote areas. Chlorine gas, a banned chemical weapon, can cause severe respiratory damage and even death.
Sudan’s government, led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, has denied these accusations. However, the U.S. maintains that Khartoum is in violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention, an international treaty prohibiting the use of such weapons.
“The United States calls on the Government of Sudan to cease all chemical weapons use and uphold its obligations,” the State Department said. While the sanctions are broad, Washington has allowed for partial waivers, citing national security interests. Humanitarian assistance, as well as food and agricultural commodities, will still be permitted.
In practice, the latest sanctions may have limited immediate impact, as both Burhan and his rival, RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo (also known as Hemedti), are already under individual U.S. sanctions. However, the move signals Washington’s intensified condemnation of atrocities committed during the Sudanese conflict.
The war, now in its second year, has plunged the country into chaos. More than 13 million people have been displaced, and tens of thousands have died, as government forces and RSF fighters battle for control. The United Nations has labeled Sudan’s crisis the worst humanitarian disaster globally.
As international pressure mounts, observers say the new sanctions may further isolate Sudan’s military regime and amplify calls for accountability and peace in a country long plagued by instability.
