The Banjul-based NGO Forum, convened during the 85th Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, has concluded that the Sudanese Army breached the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) by deploying toxic agents in several parts of the country.
According to the Forum’s resolution, forces operating under the Port Sudan administration used chemical weapons in multiple conflict zones — including Khartoum, Al-Jazirah, Sennar, and Darfur — during the civil war that began in April 2023.
As a signatory to the CWC since 1992, Sudan is legally required to eliminate any stockpiles of chemical weapons and dismantle related production facilities. The Forum determined that the army’s actions violated these international obligations.
The group also criticized the Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs for its July 2025 statement denying the accusations, describing the response as inadequate and lacking transparency or independent investigation.
In its communiqué, the Forum urged accountability, international oversight, and immediate measures to investigate and prevent further violations. The resolution represents a collective position of African civil society organizations demanding justice for victims of chemical attacks and other war-related abuses.
The decision will be formally presented to the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights for review and possible action.
International concern over the issue has been mounting. In 2025, the United States imposed sanctions on the Port Sudan authority, citing the army’s use of banned chemical agents during 2024. Human Rights Watch later confirmed the use of chlorine gas, calling it a war crime under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court and urging the global community to respond.
The Banjul Forum’s findings mark a significant move toward accountability for chemical warfare and a renewed call to uphold the global ban on weapons of mass destruction.
