Washington: The United States will impose new sanctions on Sudan following its conclusion that the Sudanese government deployed chemical weapons in 2024 during its conflict with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), the State Department announced on Thursday.
The sanctions, which will include restrictions on U.S. exports and government-backed credit lines, are set to take effect around June 6 after Congress was formally notified, said State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce.
"The United States urges Sudan’s government to halt any use of chemical weapons and to respect its commitments under the Chemical Weapons Convention," Bruce said.
Sudanese authorities have not yet issued a response to the announcement.
Sudan’s devastating war, which erupted in April 2023 due to a power struggle between the military and the RSF, has triggered widespread ethnic violence, displaced around 13 million people, and left many areas in famine. Tens of thousands have died.
In January, the U.S. imposed sanctions on Sudanese army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, citing his role in prolonging the war. Washington has also accused RSF fighters and allied militias of committing acts of genocide, sanctioning several of their leaders, including RSF commander General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, widely known as Hemedti.
The New York Times previously reported that American intelligence indicated the Sudanese military used chemical weapons—likely chlorine gas—on at least two occasions in remote areas last year, inflicting severe harm on civilians.
The State Department said the U.S. formally concluded on April 24 that Sudan violated the Chemical and Biological Weapons Control and Warfare Elimination Act of 1991, although it did not provide specific details on the type, location, or timing of the weapons’ use.
“The United States remains resolute in holding those responsible for chemical weapons use accountable,” Bruce emphasized.
However, a Sudanese diplomatic source pushed back, alleging the U.S. move was a diversion from recent criticism in Congress of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The official questioned why Washington had not sought an investigation through the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.
Sudan severed diplomatic ties with the UAE earlier this month, accusing the Gulf nation of arming the RSF with advanced weapons. The UAE has denied these claims, insisting it only supports peace and humanitarian efforts.
Tensions escalated further when Sudan accused the UAE of orchestrating a recent attack on Port Sudan, marking the first time it has directly blamed the UAE for military intervention. The UAE has rejected the allegations and condemned the assault.
Meanwhile, U.S. lawmakers have introduced efforts to block arms sales to the UAE over its suspected involvement in the Sudanese conflict.
