The United States has renewed its accusation that the Sudanese army used chemical weapons in 2024, saying the Port Sudan authorities must take steps to return to compliance with the Chemical Weapons Convention.
The US State Department’s Bureau of African Affairs said Washington had concluded that the Sudanese Armed Forces used chemical weapons in violation of the international treaty.
Responding to a statement from the Port Sudan-based foreign ministry rejecting US sanctions and denying the allegations, the bureau said Sudan had failed to acknowledge the use of chemical weapons or take the necessary corrective measures.
“Unfortunately, Sudan has refused to acknowledge its use of chemical weapons, take the necessary steps to address the situation or return to compliance with the convention,” the bureau said in a post on X.
It added that an internal committee established by the Port Sudan authorities could not replace independent verification by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.
“As a result, and in accordance with US law, we announced the imposition of additional sanctions on the Sudanese government,” the bureau said.
The State Department also called on the Port Sudan authorities to meet their obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention and take the measures required to restore compliance.
The Port Sudan-based foreign ministry issued a statement two days earlier rejecting the latest US sanctions and denying that the Sudanese army had used chemical weapons.
Washington recently activated a second phase of punitive measures under the US Chemical and Biological Weapons Control and Warfare Elimination Act.
The move followed a formal US determination that the Sudanese army used chemical weapons in 2024 and that the Port Sudan authorities failed to meet the legal conditions required for the sanctions to be lifted within the specified deadline.
