The US State Department announced it will impose sanctions on Sudan’s military-led government after concluding that it used chemical weapons during its conflict with the RSF. This decision, revealed on May 22, follows earlier reports by The New York Times citing US intelligence that Sudan deployed chlorine gas against RSF fighters in remote areas.

The sanctions will take effect on June 6 and include restrictions on Sudan’s access to American export markets and credit facilities, in line with the 1991 Chemical and Biological Weapons Control and Warfare Elimination Act.

Khartoum Dismisses Accusations as 'Blackmail'

Sudan’s government swiftly rejected the charges, with a spokesman labeling the US decision as “political blackmail and distortion of facts.” According to Al Jazeera, Sudan accused the Biden administration of fabricating evidence to provide political cover for the RSF, whom it blames for prolonging the war and committing atrocities.

Government officials also cited the lack of domestic reports on chemical attacks and pointed to the recent appointment of former UN official Kamel Idris as prime minister as a sign of their intent for reform.