US sanctions Sudan over alleged chemical weapons use

The United States imposed a second round of sanctions on Sudan after a technical assessment concluded that the Sudanese Armed Forces used prohibited chemical weapons during the civil war with the Rapid Support Forces. The measures, effective 20 July 2026, expand export controls, freeze assets in the United States, restrict aviation‑related transactions and block loans and financial assistance to Sudan through international institutions, with humanitarian aid exempted.

Khartoum rejects the accusations, saying no physical or technical evidence has been provided and labeling the sanctions unilateral and illegal. Sudan’s foreign ministry offered to send US experts to verify the claims, a proposal the United States did not respond to. Sudan also points to its commitment to the Chemical Weapons Convention and calls for independent verification by the OPCW rather than domestic inquiries.

The sanctions come amid a war that began in April 2023, which has created one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. The United States says the pressure aims to compel compliance with the convention and to curb the conflict’s escalation, while Sudan warns the measures will deepen its economic isolation.