Get real time updates directly on you device, subscribe now.
The United States has imposed fresh sanctions on Sudan following allegations that the Sudanese military used chemical weapons during its ongoing internal conflict. The announcement, made on May 22, 2025, marks a significant escalation in international condemnation of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), which has been locked in a devastating civil war with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since April 2023.
According to the U.S. State Department, the Sudanese government deployed chemical weapons reportedly including chlorine gas during combat operations in 2024. Though details remain classified, the U.S. says its findings are supported by credible evidence gathered through intelligence and international monitoring. The use of chemical weapons violates the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), to which Sudan is a signatory.
“These actions constitute a clear breach of international law,” said State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller. “The United States condemns in the strongest terms the use of chemical weapons by any party and calls on the Sudanese government to cease these attacks and fully comply with its obligations under international law.”
The new sanctions will take effect on June 6, 2025. They include restrictions on U.S. exports to Sudan, a freeze on certain financial assets, and the suspension of access to U.S. government credit and investment support. The sanctions target both government institutions and individuals believed to be directly involved in the deployment of chemical agents.
Sudan’s government has fiercely denied the allegations. In a public statement, the Foreign Ministry rejected the accusations as “unfounded and politically motivated,” accusing Washington of fabricating claims to justify interference in Sudanese affairs. Information Minister Khalid Al-Ayesir described the U.S. move as “a form of political blackmail based on misinformation and distortion.”
The civil war in Sudan, now in its third year, has plunged the country into a deep humanitarian and political crisis. Over 150,000 people have died, and more than 8 million have been displaced both internally and into neighboring countries, according to UN estimates. Both the SAF and the RSF have been accused of war crimes, including attacks on civilians, ethnic cleansing, and sexual violence.
The latest sanctions follow earlier measures taken by the U.S. against Sudanese military leaders, including army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and RSF commander General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, also known as “Hemedti.” In 2024, Washington imposed travel bans and asset freezes on both figures over alleged involvement in atrocities.
International watchdogs and human rights organizations have welcomed the U.S. action but stress that sanctions alone are not enough. “There must be a coordinated international effort to hold perpetrators accountable,” said Human Rights Watch in a statement. The organization has called for an urgent UN-led investigation into chemical weapons use and other war crimes committed during the conflict.
Despite international pressure, peace talks between the warring factions remain stalled. Several ceasefires brokered by foreign governments have collapsed, and violence continues to rage in several regions, particularly Darfur and Kordofan.
As the situation in Sudan deteriorates, the U.S. and its allies say they will continue to monitor developments and consider further punitive actions if the use of banned weapons or attacks on civilians persist.
