Participants at a regional African human rights forum have called for Sudan to allow international investigators to probe allegations of chemical weapons use during the country’s ongoing war.
The demands were issued during the NGO Forum held alongside the 87th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights in Banjul between May 7 and 9.
In a statement seen by Radio Dabanga, participants urged the African Commission to adopt a resolution calling on Sudan to permit the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to deploy technical teams to the country and ensure that any investigation is conducted in a comprehensive, transparent, independent and timely manner.
The forum also called for a resolution addressing the human rights situation in Sudan, backing efforts by Chad, Benin, Mauritania and Guinea-Bissau, and urging Sudanese authorities to provide sufficient clarification regarding the allegations.
Participants welcomed Sudan’s stated commitment to addressing accusations of chemical weapons use seriously and transparently, while noting measures announced by authorities, including the formation of a national investigative committee in July 2025. The statement urged the committee to publish its findings without delay.
The forum referenced a July 10, 2025 statement by Sudan’s Foreign Ministry, in which military authorities reiterated Sudan’s rejection of chemical weapons use and affirmed the country’s commitment to its obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention.
The statement further called on Sudan to fully cooperate with all states party to the convention as well as regional and international fact-finding mechanisms.
Participants expressed concern over reports alleging the use of chemical weapons in Sudan, stressing that the country is a signatory to the convention banning the development, production, stockpiling and use of such weapons.
The renewed calls come after the United States announced sanctions on Sudan in May last year, including restrictions on US exports and access to US government credit lines, over allegations that chemical weapons were used in 2024.
In October, investigators from France 24 reported evidence suggesting that General al-Burhan’s SAF used chlorine gas during attacks on and around the Al-Jaili oil refinery north of Khartoum in September 2024, during attempts to retake the area from the RSF.
Human Rights Watch also voiced concern over reports that chlorine gas may have been used as a weapon, noting that such use is prohibited under international law.
Images published by the RSF in May 2024 reportedly showed a yellow-green cloud, a characteristic associated with chlorine gas exposure. France 24 investigators said they geolocated footage and images to the Qari military base and the Al-Jaili refinery area north of Khartoum, while Human Rights Watch said it independently verified the locations.
