As the civil conflict intensifies, the US government announces sanctions on Sudan for using chemical weapons, limiting exports and financial borrowing while tensions rise over foreign involvement, particularly from the UAE.
US Imposes New Sanctions on Sudan Over Chemical Weapons Use
US Imposes New Sanctions on Sudan Over Chemical Weapons Use
The US has announced new sanctions against Sudan in response to confirmed chemical weapons usage in its civil war against the RSF.
The United States has declared new sanctions against Sudan after confirming the country's use of chemical weapons during its ongoing civil war with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). According to a statement from state department spokesperson Tammy Bruce, these sanctions will impose restrictions on US exports to Sudan and establish borrowing limits effective June 6.
Both the Sudanese military and RSF have faced accusations of committing war crimes amid the conflict, which has claimed over 150,000 lives since its onset two years ago. The military has recently regained control of Khartoum, but violence persists across other regions. While the specific details of the chemical weapons employed have not been disclosed, reports from the New York Times indicated that Sudan has utilized chlorine gas on multiple occasions, posing lethal risks to civilians.
The US has urged Sudan to halt all chemical weapons use and adhere to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), to which nearly every nation—including Sudan—has pledged compliance. US officials emphasized their commitment to holding accountable those responsible for chemical weapons proliferation.
This is not the first instance of sanctions targeting Sudan; in January, the US sanctioned leaders from both the military and RSF factions for destabilizing the country and undermining democratic processes, prompting a backlash from Sudanese officials labeling the actions as "strange and troubling."
The power struggle in Sudan has resulted in significant human suffering, with approximately 12 million people displaced and an alarming 25 million requiring food assistance. Despite these new sanctions, experts from AFP suggest that their impact may be limited due to previous measures.
This development has heightened tensions surrounding the involvement of the United Arab Emirates, which Sudan has accused of supplying arms to the RSF, a claim vehemently rejected by UAE authorities. Following US President Donald Trump's recent visit to the Gulf nation, Democratic lawmakers in Congress have sought to curtail US arms sales to the UAE in light of its alleged role in Sudan's conflict.
Amid the mounting concerns, a Sudanese diplomatic source indicated that these sanctions could be viewed as a diversion from the pressure the UAE faces in Congress. Following these events, a prominent UN court dismissed Sudan's attempts to sue the UAE over genocide accusations, underscoring the complexities interwoven within this multifaceted conflict.
