As Sudan’s civil war continues, the use of chemical weapons, international sanctions on key leaders, and a worsening famine underscore the gravity of the crisis, with millions at risk amid escalating violence and blocked aid efforts.
Chemical Weapons Use in Sudan’s Civil War
The Sudanese civil war began in April 2023, rooted in a power struggle between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The RSF, originally formed in 2013 as a formalized extension of the militias used as a counter-insurgency units and involved in the Darfur genocide, turned against the SAF following disagreements over Sudan’s governance and the RSF’s role within the military hierarchy after the 2019 ousting of President Omar al-Bashir. The conflict has resulted in significant civilian casualties, displacement, and a severe humanitarian crisis.
United States (US) officials have confirmed that Sudan’s military deployed chemical weapons on at least two occasions against the RSF. These weapons were reportedly used in remote areas, with concerns that they could be utilized in the densely populated capital, Khartoum.
The deployment of chemical weapons marks a serious escalation in the conflict, as these weapons indiscriminately target populations and cause disproportionate suffering, violating International Humanitarian Law (IHL). IHL prohibits their use under treaties like the Chemical Weapons Convention, which safeguard civilians and combatants and demand accountability for such breaches.
Sanctions on Sudanese Leaders and Entities
On January 16, the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has sanctioned General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, leader of the SAF, under Executive Order 14098, which targets individuals destabilizing Sudan and obstructing its transition to democracy. General Mohammad Hamdan Daglo Mousa, leader of the RSF, was similarly sanctioned on January 7.
In addition to these sanctions, OFAC has designated a Sudanese-Ukrainian official, Ahmad Abdalla, and the Hong Kong-based company Portex Trade Limited, for their roles in supporting Sudan’s Defense Industries System (DIS, the country’s military procurement organization). Abdalla, the Chief Operating Officer of Portex, facilitated the procurement of Iranian-made Unmanned Aerial Vehicles through an Azerbaijani defense company, circumventing sanctions imposed on the DIS in June 2023.
As part of the sanctions, the US has frozen the assets of sanctioned individuals and entities within its jurisdiction. These measures prohibit US persons and institutions from engaging in transactions involving blocked persons unless authorized by OFAC licenses.
The US Secretary of State Antony Blinken determined in December 2023 that SAF forces had committed war crimes.
Starvation as a War Tactic and Aid Blockades
Under General Al-Burhan’s leadership, the SAF has been accused of airstrikes targeting schools, hospitals, and civilian markets, as well as using starvation as a war tactic. Experts predict that the country could experience one of the worst famines in decades, with up to 2.5 million deaths anticipated by the end of 2025 if aid does not reach those in need.
Darfur, a region historically plagued by conflict, is among the hardest-hit areas. Of the 14 Sudanese districts at immediate risk of famine, eight are located in Darfur. Refugees fleeing the area cite hunger, rather than violence, as their primary reason for leaving.
Efforts to deliver aid have been hindered by the Sudanese military’s blockade of the Adré border crossing with Chad, a vital route for United Nations aid convoys. Despite hosting refugees and allowing the passage of goods like fuel, the crossing remains closed to food deliveries. This has prevented relief agencies from reaching over 440,000 people already on the brink of starvation in Darfur.
US officials have made repeated appeals to open the border, emphasizing the urgency of addressing the humanitarian crisis. However, these calls have yet to result in action.