New U.S. sanctions against Sudan have officially come into effect, targeting the country over allegations that its military used chemical weapons in the ongoing conflict with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
The sanctions impose restrictions on U.S. exports, arms sales, and financial assistance to Sudan for at least one year. However, humanitarian aid will remain exempt.
The measures follow reports that Sudanese government troops allegedly deployed chlorine gas—an agent that can cause severe respiratory damage and death—during military operations. The New York Times, citing unnamed U.S. officials, first reported the claims in January 2025.
Sudan’s military leadership, including General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, are already under U.S. sanctions. Sudanese authorities have denied the chemical weapons allegations.
The sanctions come amid a devastating civil war that erupted in 2023 between Sudan’s military and the RSF. The conflict has killed tens of thousands and displaced around 13 million people, leading the United Nations to label it the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.
