The United States has imposed sanctions on Sudan’s government after accusing it of deploying chemical weapons during the ongoing civil conflict with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The sanctions, announced Friday, mark a significant escalation in the international response to a war marred by widespread human rights abuses.
Washington revealed it had notified Congress back in May of its conclusion that Sudan used chemical weapons in 2024, violating the Chemical Weapons Convention, to which Khartoum has been a signatory since 1999. However, US officials did not disclose specifics on when or where the weapons were allegedly used.
Sudanese authorities strongly rejected the accusation, labelling it “baseless” and politically motivated. Despite the sanctions, the US confirmed humanitarian aid would be exempt, given that nearly 25 million Sudanese are currently facing extreme hunger — the most severe food crisis globally.
The allegations echo similar past claims. In January, The New York Times cited anonymous US officials who claimed Sudan’s military deployed chlorine gas on at least two occasions during the conflict. The army’s top commander, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, was reportedly aware of and authorised the attacks.

This is not the first time Sudan’s military has faced such accusations. In 2016, Amnesty International alleged chemical weapons were used against civilians in Darfur, though the government denied this. And in 1998, the US bombed a Khartoum pharmaceutical factory, claiming it was producing chemicals for Al-Qaeda — a charge Sudan also rejected.
Relations between Sudan and the United States have been strained for decades, particularly under the regime of Omar al-Bashir, who was accused of supporting terrorism and carrying out genocide in Darfur with the help of the Janjaweed militia, the RSF’s predecessor.
While ties briefly improved after Bashir’s ousting in 2019, a 2021 coup led by Burhan and RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Daglo (known as Hemeti) halted democratic progress and reignited instability. The two generals eventually turned against each other, launching a war in April 2023 that continues to devastate the country.
In January 2025, Washington imposed sanctions on both Burhan and Hemeti. Although international efforts — including by the US — have attempted to broker a ceasefire, none have succeeded so far.
The new sanctions are expected to have limited impact on the wealth and operations of Sudan’s military elites, who are adept at bypassing financial restrictions. However, ordinary Sudanese civilians will likely suffer further economic strain. Already, over 10 million people are displaced, and famine has been declared in several regions.
The United States was Sudan’s largest humanitarian donor in 2024, covering nearly half of the UN’s $2 billion relief appeal. However, following a sharp cut in foreign aid under President Donald Trump, American assistance has now fallen by almost 80 percent. Official figures also show US exports to Sudan were worth just $56.6 million in 2024.