US Sanctions Sudan Over Alleged Use of Chemical Weapons in Civil War

The US will put new rules on Sudan. This is because the US says Sudan used chemical weapons last year in the war against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

From June 6, the US will stop sending some goods to Sudan. It will also limit how much Sudan can borrow.

A US spokesperson, Tammy Bruce, gave this news in a statement.

But Sudan’s government says the claims are false. A Sudanese official said, "These are lies with no proof."

Both the Sudanese army and the RSF have been blamed for war crimes. They both deny the charges.

The war started two years ago. It began when Sudan’s army and the RSF fought over who should rule. So far, over 150,000 people have died.

Sudan’s army took back the capital, Khartoum. But fighting is still going on in other places.

The US did not say which chemical weapons were used. But the New York Times said in January that Sudan used chlorine gas twice. Chlorine gas is harmful and can kill people. These events happened in faraway places, but no photos or videos have been shown.

The US asked Sudan to stop using these weapons. The US said Sudan must follow the Chemical Weapons Convention. This is a global deal that bans such weapons.

Sudan’s Culture Minister, Khalid Al-Ayesir, said the US is using “political blackmail.” He said the US is trying to fool people and protect other bad groups.

He also said the US made up stories before. He pointed to a 1998 attack. That year, the US bombed a Sudan factory. It said the factory made weapons and had links to Osama Bin Laden. Sudan denied this. Later, the US lifted the freeze on the owner’s money. Many saw this as proof the US had no real evidence.

Most countries have signed the Chemical Weapons Convention. Only Egypt, North Korea, and South Sudan have not. Israel signed it but did not fully agree to follow it.

The US says it will keep punishing those who help spread chemical weapons.

This is not the first time the US has punished Sudan. In January, it put rules on leaders from both sides of the war.

Sudan’s army boss, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, was blamed for stopping Sudan’s move to democracy. Sudan’s foreign ministry called the US action “strange.”

The RSF leader, Hemedti, was accused of genocide by former US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. The RSF says this is not true.

The war has hurt Sudan badly. Around 12 million people had to leave their homes. About 25 million people now need food. That is more than twice the number of people living in London.

Experts say the new US rules will not change much. Sudan is already under heavy limits.

These new steps come as the US and UAE face tension. Sudan says the UAE gave weapons to the RSF. The UAE says this is not true.

Last week, US President Donald Trump visited the UAE. After that, US lawmakers tried to block weapon sales to the UAE.

A Sudan official told Reuters that the US is using these new rules to shift focus from the UAE issue.

This month, the top UN court said Sudan cannot sue the UAE for genocide.