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U.S. to Sanction Sudan's Military Chief for Chemical Weapons Use Amid Genocide and Humanitarian Crisis

Jan 16, 2025, 04:33 PM

The United States has determined that Sudan's military has used chemical weapons at least twice against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitaries in their ongoing conflict, according to U.S. officials. This revelation comes as the U.S. prepares to announce sanctions against Sudanese military chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, citing strong evidence of atrocities in the country. The chemical weapons were deployed in remote areas of Sudan, targeting the RSF, which the Sudanese military has been fighting since April 2023. Concerns have been raised by U.S. officials about the potential use of these weapons in densely populated areas like the capital, Khartoum. The use of chemical weapons marks a significant escalation in the conflict, which has already led to over 150,000 deaths, displaced more than 11 million people, and caused one of the worst famines in decades. Additionally, the U.S. has determined that the RSF committed genocide in the war, leading to sanctions against its leader, Lt. Gen. Mohamed Hamdan, and seven companies based in the United Arab Emirates that traded in weapons or gold for the RSF.