US will sanction Sudan for using chemical weapons
The US will impose new sanctions on Sudan after they ascertained its military used chemical weapons whilst fighting against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group, reports Al Jazeera on May 23rd.
The sanctions will restrict US exports to Sudan and financial borrowing limits will be put in place from June 6th, according to US Department of State spokesperson Tammy Bruce. She read from a statement made on May 22nd: “The United States calls on the Government of Sudan to cease all chemical weapons use and uphold its obligations” under the Chemical Weapons Convention.
No further detail was provided by the US on which chemical weapons were used in which location, but the New York Times reported in January that Sudan had used chlorine gas against the RSF on two separate instances, which can lead to severely damaging and even fatal effects.
“The United States remains fully committed to hold to account those responsible for contributing to chemical weapons proliferation”, Bruce added.
This is not an isolated incident of the US imposing sanctions in Sudan. In January, they were issued against Sudan’s military leader, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, who was accused of “destabilising Sudan and undermining the goal of a democratic transition” by refusing to take part in international peace talks.
The US have also sanctioned and accused the RSF leader, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, of committing genocide within the country,
These sanctions come at a time of the UAE’s alleged involvement within the Sudan conflict. The UAE and Sudan have upheld diplomatic relations until recently, when the Sudanese government accused the UAE of providing military support to the RSF. The UAE denies this claim.
After President Donald Trump’s recent visit to the UAE last week, Democratic Congress members have rallied to cease US supply of weapons to the UAE due to this alleged participation in the Sudan conflict.
The civil war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and RSF has been ensuring since April 2023 and has seen one of the worst humanitarian crises and famines in the world, resulting in the death of thousands and the displacement of over 12 million people.
Al Jazeera/BBC/Maghrebi
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