US imposes sanctions on Sudan over chemical weapons use
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US sanctions Sudan for chemical weapons use amid ongoing brutal conflict and humanitarian crisis.
The United States has announced sanctions against Sudan after determining that the Sudanese government used chemical weapons during its ongoing conflict with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). This decision, made in April under U.S. law, concludes that Sudan violated the international Chemical Weapons Convention, an agreement aimed at prohibiting the use of chemical weapons in warfare. The sanctions are expected to take effect around June 6 and will include restrictions on U.S. exports to Sudan, as well as limits on government-backed credit and financial transactions. These punitive measures aim to pressure Sudan’s government to halt the use of prohibited weapons and to push toward resolving the violent conflict that has devastated the country.
Sudanese authorities have vehemently denied the allegations, dismissing them as false and politically motivated accusations. According to U.S. officials, the chemical weapons reportedly used were likely chlorine gas, which was allegedly deployed at least twice in remote areas during the past year. The conflict itself began in April 2023, sparked by a fierce power struggle between Sudan’s national army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. What started as a political and military tussle quickly escalated into a full-scale civil war, resulting in widespread destruction and a severe humanitarian crisis. The United Nations and other international bodies have described it as the worst humanitarian disaster globally, with more than 13 million people displaced from their homes and tens of thousands killed.
This conflict’s human toll has drawn international condemnation and intensified calls for peaceful negotiations. Earlier this year, the U.S. government also imposed sanctions on prominent military leaders involved in the conflict, including army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo. Both leaders have been accused of orchestrating war crimes and atrocities during the hostilities. These measures underscore the growing frustration and urgency within the international community to hold responsible parties accountable and to prevent further suffering. However, despite these sanctions and diplomatic pressures, violence continues unabated in many parts of Sudan, complicating efforts toward peace and stability.
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