On May 22, 2025, the Department of State issued the following press release:

«On April 24, 2025, the United States determined under the Chemical and Biological Weapons Control and Warfare Elimination Act of 1991 (the CBW Act) that the Government of Sudan used chemical weapons in 2024.

This determination was delivered to Congress today, along with an addendum to the April 15, 2025, Condition 10(C) Report on Compliance with the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) that finds the Government of Sudan in non-compliance with the CWC, to which it is a party. Following a 15-day Congressional notification period, the United States will impose sanctions on Sudan, including restrictions on U.S. exports to Sudan and on access to U.S. government lines of credit.

The sanctions will take effect upon publication of a notice in the Federal Register, expected on or around June 6, 2025.

The United States calls on the Government of Sudan to cease all chemical weapons use and uphold its obligations under the CWC.

The United States remains fully committed to hold to account those responsible for contributing to chemical weapons proliferation.»

Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Response

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs categorically denies the unfounded allegations made in the statement issued yesterday by the United States Department of State, claiming that the Sudanese Government used chemical weapons in their response to the war of aggression and invasion currently being waged against Sudan. The Ministry further denounces the measures the U.S. administration has announced it intends to take against Sudan based on these false and baseless accusations.

The Ministry expresses its deep astonishment at the approach adopted by the U.S. administration in this matter. The issue began months ago with anonymous leaks to the American press containing these allegations, yet the United States completely avoided raising the matter through the appropriate and internationally mandated body – the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in The Hague, of which both Sudan and the United States are members. Moreover, Sudan currently holds a seat on the Executive Council of the OPCW.

The Chemical Weapons Convention, to which both countries are signatories, explicitly defines the procedures for addressing such allegations and concerns. Despite claiming that the alleged use occurred last year, the United States has failed to take the essential first step of notifying the OPCW of these claims.

Sudan remains fully committed to its obligations under the Convention, including the regular submission of declarations and the abstention from the production, stockpiling, or use of chemical weapons. Accordingly, Sudan rejects any unilateral measures in this regard that violate the provisions of the Chemical Weapons Convention – particularly when taken by a party with a known history of using false allegations to threaten the sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity of other states.