The head of the global chemical weapons watchdog said Tuesday that General al-Burhan’s army (SAF) has deployed chemical agents in at least 13 neighbourhoods of Khartoum, cautioning residents never to return to those areas for their own safety.
Fernando Arias, director‑general of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, told reporters most of the affected districts feature high‑rise buildings, heightening the risk of mass casualties. “Civilians must clearly be advised not to go back under any circumstances,” he said.
Arias condemned the use of internationally banned chemical weapons as “inhuman” and criticized Port Sudan junta leadership for failing to publicly identify the locations where these weapons were used. “It is the army’s professional responsibility to inform citizens,” he said.
The OPCW, which enforces the Chemical Weapons Convention, has opened an urgent inquiry into the allegations. Sudan has faced growing international scrutiny over reports of indiscriminate attacks on its own population amid a months‑long power struggle between rival generals.
No immediate response was available from Port Sudan junta, who have previously denied targeting civilians. The United Nations has repeatedly called for restraint and unhindered humanitarian access to the capital’s embattled districts.
