US says Sudan uses chemical weapons in civil war

The United States will impose new sanctions on Sudan after discovering that they have used chemical weapons last year in the ongoing civil war against the rapid support forces (RSF), the State Department said.

The US exports to the country will be limited and the restrictions on financial loans introduced from June 6, said a statement by spokesman Tammy Bruce.

Both the Sudanese military and the RSF paramilitary group were previously charged with war crimes during the conflict.

The BBC contacted Sudan to respond to the latest US actions. Sudanese officials say they still have no statement.

More than 150,000 people were killed during the conflict, which began two years ago, when Sudan and RSF’s army began a vicious fight for power.

In recent months Sudan’s military have seized the capital of Khartoum, but the battles continue on a while.

No details were provided on which chemical weapons the United States said they had discovered, but in January the New York Times reported that Sudan used chlorine gas twice, causing a number of painful and harmful effects and could be fatal.

It is alleged that this was in remote areas that were not indicated. No visual evidence has been shared so far, as evidence of weapons has been used in the present war in Sudan.

“The United States is calling on the Sudan government to terminate all chemical weapons and maintain its CWC obligations,” the announcement said, citing the Chemical Weapons Convention that signatures are committed to destroying their arms stocks.

Almost every country in the world – including Sudan – has agreed to CWC, with the exception of Egypt, North Korea and South Sudan, according to the US -based arms control Association, US membership organization. Israel has signed the agreement but has not ratified its signature, which means that it has not legally confirmed its participation in the contract, ACA adds.

“The United States remains fully committed to taking into account those responsible for contributing to the spread of chemical weapons,” Bruce added.

This is not the first time the United States has imposed sanctions in Sudan. In January, they were issued against leaders of both countries embedded in the conflict.

Sudan’s military leader Abdel Fatah al -Burhan was Accused of “destabilizing Sudan and undermine the purpose of a democratic transition” from the US, which the country’s foreign ministry has condemned as “strange and anxious.”

Meanwhile, the head of RSF Mohammed Hamdan Daglo, also known as Hemedti, was determined to have a genocide performed In the country by former Secretary of State Antony Blinken. RSF denied these fees.

The rival forces have been fighting for power over the last two years, displacing about 12 million people and leaving 25 million need for food assistance, more than doubling the London population.

The new sanctions will have little effect on the country as a result of these previous measures, according to the AFP News Agency.

This last move in the United States comes against the background of tensions because of the alleged participation of the United Arab Emirates in the conflict. UAE and Sudan maintained diplomatic ties Till earlier this month When the Sudan government claims that the UAE has provided a RSF weapon, a statement that the UAE denies.

Following the warm admission of US President Donald Trump in the Gulf of Persian last week, Congress Democrats tried to block the sale of weapons from the United States in the UAE in part because of their alleged involvement in the conflict.

A Sudanese diplomatic source told Reuters News Agency that the United States has imposed new sanctions, “to distract from the recent Congress campaign against the UAE.”

Earlier this month, UN Top Court rejected Sudan’s offer To judge the UAE for genocide.

Additional reporting from Peter Mwai from BBC Check