Sudanese General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his SAF, are accused of using chemical weapons at least twice against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), the group they have been fighting since April 2023, according to four senior U.S. officials.
The alleged chemical attacks are said to have occurred in remote areas of Sudan, targeting RSF fighters. U.S. officials have expressed grave concern that these weapons could soon be used in more populated areas, including the capital, Khartoum.
In response to these developments, the United States is preparing to impose sanctions on General al-Burhan, citing documented human rights violations by his forces. These include indiscriminate airstrikes on civilian areas and the use of starvation as a weapon of war.
The ongoing conflict between the SAF and RSF has led to widespread devastation, with an estimated 150,000 fatalities and over 11 million people displaced. The United Nations has issued stark warnings of a looming famine, which could become the most severe in decades.
The United States’ sanctions are intended to increase pressure on both sides to reach a ceasefire and restore civilian governance. However, aid organizations are concerned that these measures could provoke retaliation from the SAF, further disrupting vital humanitarian efforts in famine-stricken areas.
The Sudanese government, controlled by the SAF, has denounced the U.S. sanctions, calling them “illogical and unjust” and stressing that the military’s actions are vital to defending the country.