Washington, July 22 (Darfur24)
The United States has renewed its accusation that the Sudanese army used chemical weapons in 2024, saying the authorities in Port Sudan have failed to meet their obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention despite denying the allegations.
In a post on X, the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of African Affairs said Sudan had refused to acknowledge the use of chemical weapons or take the steps required to return to compliance with the convention.
The statement came in response to the Port Sudan authorities’ rejection of recently imposed U.S. sanctions and their denial that the Sudanese army used chemical weapons.
The bureau said the internal committee announced by the Sudanese authorities could not replace an independent investigation by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), adding that the United States had imposed additional sanctions under U.S. law.
It urged the authorities in Port Sudan to comply with their obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention and take the necessary measures to restore compliance.
Last week, the second phase of sanctions under the U.S. Chemical and Biological Weapons Control Act came into force after Washington concluded that the Sudanese army had used chemical weapons in 2024 and that Sudan had failed to meet the legal conditions required to avoid the penalties.