Former Watchdog Officials Confirm Sudan Armed Forces Deployed Chemical Weapons

New evidence brought forward by former senior officials of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) has further corroborated reports that the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) utilized chemical weapons during conflicts spanning from 2024 to 2025. In interviews with Euronews, these former officials expanded upon previous investigations published by The New York Times and The Washington Post.

Gathering testimonies from eight witnesses in Nairobi, Kenya—where numerous Sudanese refugees sought safety from the ongoing conflict—the former officials documented credible accounts of unexplained illnesses following military operations. The sources included emergency response workers, medical professionals who treated victims, and individuals directly exposed to the chemical agents.

A critical account came from two witnesses detailing an assault at the Al Jili Oil Refinery in Khartoum, which was controlled by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) at the time. Witnesses reported observing barrel-shaped aerial objects, unfamiliar odors, unusual emissions, and subsequent acute respiratory issues alongside localized vegetation damage. Consequently, the former officials have urged the OPCW to initiate a formal investigation.

While the SAF has consistently denied deploying chemical weapons, the ongoing war that began in April 2023 continues unabated. Gen Abdel Fattah Al Burhan, the sanctioned leader of the SAF, has pledged to fight until the RSF is defeated, resisting international ceasefire efforts led by the US and regional powers. Previous US intelligence previously linked the SAF to chlorine gas attacks in 2024, prompting governmental sanctions.

Further investigative findings revealed that the SAF maintained a secret chemical weapons stockpile, attempted concealment measures, and conducted desert weapons testing. In response, a Sudanese coalition petitioned the UN Human Rights Council to expose external supporters of the SAF and extend the mandate of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Sudan. Additionally, concerns remain regarding alleged SAF collaboration with Yemen's Houthi rebels for weapons smuggling, following earlier accusations from Yemen's Minister of Information, Moammar Al Eryani, regarding chemical weapon manufacturing from smuggled parts. The catastrophic conflict has claimed tens of thousands of lives, displaced millions, and fueled a severe humanitarian crisis affecting approximately 20 million hungry individuals.