The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), under the leadership of General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, have once again been accused of deploying chemical weapons, a charge that has plagued the SAF for years, especially during the ongoing conflict against the RSF which erupted in 2023.
Human rights groups, including Human Rights Watch and the International Criminal Court (ICC), have long documented claims of chemical weapons use by SAF and allied Islamist militias in Darfur, where the conflict dates back more than 2 decades.
These allegations gained significant attention in 2016, when reports surfaced that the Sudanese dictator al-Bashir had used chemical weapons in Darfur’s Jebel Marra region, leading to widespread civilian casualties.
Survivors exhibited symptoms like blistering, suffocation, and neurological damage, consistent with exposure to chemical agents. However, Sudan’s SAF-controlled government has consistently denied these claims, labeling them as fabricated.
The allegations date back even further, to the 1990s and early 2000s, when bombings targeting rebel groups in southern and western Sudan were suspected to involve chemical weapons. Despite Sudan’s signature on the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), which prohibits such attacks, the SAF-controlled government has repeatedly dismissed these accusations.
In the most recent escalation of Sudan’s civil war, which pits al-Burhan’s SAF against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), fresh allegations have surfaced.
U.S. officials have accused the SAF of deploying chemical weapons on at least two occasions in remote areas, reportedly targeting RSF forces.
The chemical agents allegedly used included chlorine gas, though the exact substances remain unclear. These attacks, occurring amidst the broader conflict that has devastated civilian infrastructure and caused extensive loss of life, have drawn global condemnation.
The United States has responded by imposing sanctions on General al-Burhan and other senior SAF officials, accusing them of committing war crimes, including the use of chemical weapons against both combatants and civilians. The allegations have sparked international outcry, with the United Nations and human rights organizations calling for independent investigations and accountability.
SAF’s long history of chemical weapons
Below are some of the most notable allegations against al-Burhan’s SAF
In 2016, the Sudanese government was accused of using chemical weapons in the Jebel Marra region, which was a stronghold of the Sudan Liberation Movement – Abdel Wahid (SLM-AW). The attacks allegedly caused widespread civilian casualties, with reports of symptoms consistent with chemical exposure, such as blistering, suffocation, and neurological damage. The military-controlled Sudanese government denied the allegations, dismissing them as propaganda, but numerous civilian deaths and injuries were reported.
Between 2003 and 2005, during the early years of the Darfur conflict, the SAF was accused of using chemical weapons in bombing campaigns against rebel groups. These bombings often targeted villages suspected of supporting rebel forces. Survivors reported symptoms like vomiting, blindness, and respiratory distress, which were similar to those caused by chemical agents, though the evidence was largely circumstantial. The military-controlled Sudanese government rejected these claims, asserting that the bombings were conventional.
In the 1990s and early 2000s, during the civil war in southern Sudan, the SAF was accused of using chemical weapons in bombings against rebel groups. Allegations of toxic chemical exposure were reported, with numerous casualties. However, these claims were not fully investigated, and the military-controlled Sudanese government denied any use of chemical weapons.
During the 1990s, SAF was also accused of using chemical weapons in the Nuba Mountains during the civil war with the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA). Bombing raids on rebel positions in the region led to accusations of chemical warfare. Victims reported symptoms like blistering, burns, and other injuries consistent with chemical exposure, but these claims were never conclusively proven. The military-controlled Sudanese government once again denied the use of chemical weapons, attributing the attacks to conventional bombings.
In 2013, during the conflict in South Kordofan, the SAF was accused of using chemical weapons against rebel groups, particularly targeting civilian areas suspected of supporting rebels. Survivors reported unusual symptoms such as severe skin burns and respiratory issues, suggesting exposure to chemical agents. However, the Sudanese government denied these allegations and attributed the injuries to conventional weapons.
In 2023-2024, as the conflict between the SAF and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) escalated, new allegations of chemical weapon use emerged, particularly regarding chlorine gas. Reports from remote areas in Sudan suggested that the SAF used chemical agents to target RSF forces, with victims exhibiting symptoms of chemical poisoning. In response, the U.S. government imposed sanctions on General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and senior SAF officials, accusing them of war crimes, including the use of chemical weapons.
While these incidents have been widely reported by human rights organizations and international bodies, the military-controlled Sudanese government has consistently denied any use of chemical weapons. In many cases, evidence remains inconclusive or difficult to verify due to the remote locations of the attacks and the government’s control over information.
