U.S. State Department says chemical weapons used in Sudan
Left: Chlorine gas cylinders (Canva Pro). Right: A recent explosion at Port Sudan airport (social media).
The grim announcement came with no details about which chemical agents were used —or where and at what scale— except that such weapons were deployed in 2024.
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On May 22, the U.S. State Department announced a determination that the Sudanese army has used chemical weapons in the current war. The announcement came with no details about which chemical agents were used by the army —or where and at what scale— except that such weapons were deployed in 2024.
While no solid evidence of chemical weapons usage in Sudan has been made public so far, in January the New York Times reported that chlorine gas had been used on at least two occasions in remote areas. Weaponized chlorine gas reacts with water in the lungs to form hydrochloric acid, which is destructive to living tissue and can be lethal. It was first used in World War I and has been confirmed used as recently as the Syrian Civil War.
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It’s unclear if the State Department determination is about these incidents or something else entirely, or both.
This is not the first time that allegations of chemical weapons usage in Sudan have arisen. The United States bombed an industrial plant in Khartoum in 1998 that it claimed was used for processing a VX nerve agent, and that the owners of the plant had ties to al-Qaeda. Those claims came under serious question in the aftermath. A substantial investigation by Amnesty International in 2016 found credible evidence that chemical weapons had been used to kill and maim hundreds of civilians, including children, in Darfur.
Anecdotal accounts of chemical weapons attacks have leaked out of Darfur, the Nuba Mountains, and Blue Nile –three of the most oppressed regions of Sudan– for years, often with refugees who saw strange munitions explode.
According to the State Department’s recent determination:
”Following a 15-day Congressional notification period, the United States will impose sanctions on Sudan, including restrictions on U.S. exports to Sudan and on access to U.S. government lines of credit. The sanctions will take effect upon publication of a notice in the Federal Register, expected on or around June 6, 2025. The United States calls on the Government of Sudan to cease all chemical weapons use and uphold its obligations under the CWC. The United States remains fully committed to hold to account those responsible for contributing to chemical weapons proliferation.”
These sanctions will likely be largely symbolic, as there is very limited trade between the United States and Sudan. Both countries have signed The Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), an international treaty that prohibits the development, production, stockpiling, transfer, and use of chemical weapons.
What does all this mean for Sudan’s present situation? The widespread and heavy use of conventional munitions in areas of combat shows the war will continue with or without chemical weapons and continue to be immensely destructive. Still, the use of chemical weapons is just the latest reminder that, even with how bad the situation in Sudan already is, things can still get much worse. Reductions of violence and more humanitarian aid in any and all forms can save many lives, even if the war itself continues.
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The U.S. State Department says chemical weapons have been used in Sudan’s brutal war, which is now in its third year. https://operationbrokensilence.org/blog/us-state-department-says-chemical-weapons-used-in-sudan
The grim announcement came with no details about which chemical agents were used —or where and at what scale— except that such weapons were deployed in 2024. https://operationbrokensilence.org/blog/us-state-department-says-chemical-weapons-used-in-sudan
While no solid evidence of chemical weapons usage in Sudan has been made public so far, in January the New York Times reported that chlorine gas had been used on at least two occasions in remote areas. It’s unclear if the State Department determination is about these incidents or something else entirely, or both. https://operationbrokensilence.org/blog/us-state-department-says-chemical-weapons-used-in-sudan
The widespread use of conventional munitions shows the war will continue to be immensely destructive. But the use of chemical weapons is another reminder that, even with how bad the situation in Sudan already is, things can still get much worse. https://operationbrokensilence.org/blog/us-state-department-says-chemical-weapons-used-in-sudan
Operation Broken Silence is dedicated to Sudanese communities, cultivating resilience and driving meaningful change through crowdfunded programs. Will you join us? https://operationbrokensilence.org/blog/us-state-department-says-chemical-weapons-used-in-sudan
