The United States has announced fresh sanctions on Sudan, accusing its military of using chemical weapons in its civil war. This dramatic escalation adds to rising concerns over war crimes in the conflict with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
Starting June 6, US exports to Sudan will face restrictions. Borrowing limits will also be imposed, the State Department confirmed. The move follows intelligence indicating chemical weapons were deployed in remote parts of Sudan last year.
Although the specific chemicals were not identified, US media previously reported chlorine gas was used. Chlorine causes severe respiratory damage and can be fatal. No visual proof has been released so far.
Sudan has strongly denied the allegations. The government dismissed them as “baseless claims with no supporting evidence.” Sudan’s Information Minister Khalid Al-Ayesir accused Washington of “political blackmail” and undermining credibility in the region.
He further linked the new claims to the 1998 US bombing of the Al-Shifa pharmaceutical factory. At the time, the US alleged the site was linked to chemical weapons production. That accusation was later widely discredited.
The US chemical weapons sanctions on Sudan raise global alarm among human rights observers. They come amid an ongoing conflict that has already killed over 150,000 people and displaced 12 million.
The war began two years ago, pitting the Sudanese military against the RSF. While Khartoum has recently been recaptured, violence rages on in other parts of the country.
In its statement, the US urged Sudan to uphold the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), an international treaty it signed. Only three countries—Egypt, North Korea, and South Sudan—have not signed the CWC.
Minister Al-Ayesir argued the accusations aimed to divert attention from US domestic politics. He said the timing was intended to shift focus from Congress’s scrutiny of the UAE’s alleged role in the Sudan conflict.
The RSF and Sudanese army have both been accused of atrocities. The US had already sanctioned top leaders, including General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and RSF chief Mohammed Hamdan Daglo. The latter was accused of genocide by former Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
The US chemical weapons sanctions on Sudan raise global alarm not only over battlefield conduct but also regional dynamics. Sudan recently cut ties with the UAE, accusing it of arming the RSF—charges the Gulf state denies.
Amid these tensions, Democrats in the US Congress are now trying to block arms sales to the UAE. Their push follows President Trump’s recent visit to the Gulf, which drew sharp criticism from rights groups.
Despite mounting international pressure, analysts believe new sanctions will have limited financial impact due to previous restrictions. However, the political implications could be more severe.
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