U.S. to sanction Sudan over use of chemical weapons in ongoing civil conflict

The United States will impose sanctions on Sudan following a formal determination that the Sudanese government used chemical weapons during its ongoing war with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), the State Department announced Thursday.

The U.S. government’s finding — that Sudan violated its obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) — was submitted to Congress on Thursday. A 15-day notification period now begins, after which the sanctions will take effect, expected around June 6, upon publication in the Federal Register.

According to the State Department, the sanctions will include restrictions on U.S. exports to Sudan and limitations on access to U.S. government credit lines, cutting Sudan off from a range of commercial and financial support channels.

“The United States calls on the Government of Sudan to cease all chemical weapons use and uphold its obligations under the CWC,” the statement said. “The United States remains fully committed to hold to account those responsible for contributing to chemical weapons proliferation.”

The sanctions come as Sudan remains engulfed in a brutal civil war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the RSF, which erupted in April 2023. The conflict has killed more than 20,000 people and displaced over 15 million, according to UN figures and local authorities. However, independent U.S. research places the death toll much higher — around 130,000.

The alleged use of chemical weapons adds a grave dimension to a conflict already considered one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. The U.S. has not disclosed specific details about when and where chemical weapons were used, but said the determination is based on classified intelligence and independent verification consistent with treaty standards.

Sudan is a signatory to the Chemical Weapons Convention, which bans the development, stockpiling, and use of chemical agents in warfare. Non-compliance can trigger punitive international measures, including trade restrictions and diplomatic isolation.

The U.S. sanctions are expected to put additional economic pressure on Sudan's fractured military leadership, as both the SAF and RSF face international condemnation for indiscriminate violence, atrocities against civilians, and the obstruction of humanitarian aid.

While Washington reiterated its support for diplomatic solutions, Thursday’s decision underscores a hardened stance toward Sudan’s ruling authorities and an effort to deter the further use of prohibited weapons in the conflict.

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