Date: May 22, 2025
By: BlogHear News Desk
The United States has announced new sanctions against Sudan, citing evidence that the Sudanese military used chemical weapons during its ongoing civil war against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), according to a statement from the U.S. State Department.
The sanctions, set to take effect on June 6, will restrict American exports to Sudan and limit the country’s financial borrowing capacity.
Chemical Weapons Allegations
In the statement, spokesperson Tammy Bruce said the U.S. “calls on the government of Sudan to cease all chemical weapons use and uphold its obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC),” a treaty to which Sudan is a signatory.
Though the U.S. did not specify the type of chemical weapons used, The New York Times previously reported that chlorine gas had been deployed on two occasions in unnamed remote regions. These claims have not been substantiated with visual or physical evidence.
Sudan’s Culture and Information Minister Khalid Al-Ayesir swiftly rejected the accusations, labeling them as “baseless claims” and “political blackmail.” He further criticized the move as a fabricated narrative designed to mislead international opinion and cover for what he described as “illegitimate actors” in Sudan’s civil war.
Historical Tensions and Previous Accusations
This is not the first time the U.S. has accused Sudan of possessing or using chemical weapons. In 1998, the U.S. bombed the Al-Shifa pharmaceutical factory in Khartoum, claiming it was producing chemical weapons and had links to Osama bin Laden’s network—allegations that were never conclusively proven.
Al-Ayesir referenced the 1998 incident, suggesting that the current sanctions are part of a pattern of false accusations that undermine U.S. credibility in the region.
Ongoing Civil War and Humanitarian Crisis
Sudan’s civil war, now in its second year, has resulted in over 150,000 deaths and the displacement of approximately 12 million people. Around 25 million Sudanese—more than double the population of London—are in need of food aid.
The Sudanese military, led by Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the RSF, under Mohammed Hamdan Daglo (Hemedti), have both faced international scrutiny and allegations of war crimes. The U.S. has previously imposed sanctions on leaders from both sides, with the RSF accused of perpetrating genocide—claims the group denies.
Global Reactions and UAE Controversy
The sanctions come at a time of heightened tensions in the region, especially amid accusations that the United Arab Emirates has been supplying arms to the RSF. Sudan recently severed diplomatic ties with the UAE over these allegations, which the Gulf nation denies.
Following former President Donald Trump’s recent visit to the UAE, Democrats in the U.S. Congress have introduced efforts to block future arms sales to the Gulf country, citing its suspected role in the Sudanese conflict.
A Sudanese diplomat told Reuters the new sanctions may serve as a diversionary tactic to shift attention away from increasing congressional criticism of U.S. relations with the UAE.
Earlier this month, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) dismissed a Sudanese case attempting to sue the UAE for alleged acts of genocide.
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