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Sudan Rejects US Sanctions, Denies Chemical Weapons Allegations
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia /Conflict & Security

Sudan Rejects US Sanctions, Denies Chemical Weapons Allegations

From Asharq Al-Awsat · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Sudan rejected US sanctions over alleged chemical weapons use, calling them unlawful and politically motivated.
  • The Foreign Ministry stated Washington bypassed international mechanisms and relied on unsubstantiated claims.
  • Sudan reiterated its commitment to the Chemical Weapons Convention and offered technical cooperation for verification.

Sudan has vehemently rejected the imposition of US sanctions, labeling them "unilateral and unlawful." The Foreign Ministry asserted that the measures are based on unsubstantiated claims and driven by "purely political motives." Khartoum accused Washington of circumventing international protocols, specifically the Chemical Weapons Convention, by imposing sanctions based on what it termed "false allegations" of the Sudanese army using prohibited weapons.

unilateral and unlawful

— Sudan Foreign MinistryDescribing the US sanctions imposed over alleged chemical weapons use.

The sanctions, set to take effect on July 20, follow a US determination that Sudan failed to meet requirements under the Chemical and Biological Weapons Control and Warfare Elimination Act of 1991. These measures restrict US support for loans and assistance through multilateral development banks, tighten export controls, and suspend the operating authority of Sudanese government-owned airlines flying to the US. Humanitarian aid and certain goods remain exempt.

purely political motives

— Sudan Foreign MinistryStating the driving force behind the US sanctions.

Sudan has consistently denied the allegations since they first surfaced in media reports citing anonymous sources. The ministry emphasized that the country neither produces, possesses, nor uses chemical weapons and remains committed to its obligations under the convention. It highlighted Sudan's membership on the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Executive Council as proof of its cooperation.

false allegations

— Sudan Foreign MinistryReferring to the claims that the Sudanese army used prohibited weapons.

Khartoum expressed readiness to cooperate technically with the US to verify the allegations and engage in procedures to resolve concerns. The ministry argued that the absence of credible evidence and the bypassing of OPCW verification mechanisms underscore the sanctions' "purely political" nature. The US announced in May 2025 that it had concluded Sudan used chemical weapons in 2024 during the conflict between the army and the Rapid Support Forces, leading to initial sanctions in June 2025. US officials maintain their assessment shows Sudan violated international law, while Sudanese authorities deny the claims, citing a lack of independent investigation or OPCW reports.

neither produces, possesses nor uses chemical weapons

— Sudan Foreign MinistryReiterating the country's stance on chemical weapons.
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Originally published by Asharq Al-Awsat. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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