By Nelson Manneh
Sudanese civil society groups have issued an urgent call for an immediate halt to the use of chemical weapons in Sudan’s ongoing conflict, as part of a powerful resolution adopted at the biannual Forum of Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs) hosted by the African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies (ACDHRS) in Banjul.
The resolution, delivered at the close of the Forum on October 19, comes as Sudan faces what United Nations agencies describe as the world’s worst humanitarian crisis in 2025. Since the outbreak of large-scale armed confrontations on April 15, 2023, Sudan has been gripped by relentless violence. Warring parties have resorted to deadly tactics, including aerial bombardment and heavy artillery in densely populated areas—causing catastrophic civilian casualties, destruction, and mass displacement.
According to conservative UN estimates, 15 million Sudanese have been displaced within and outside the country, while 26 million face acute hunger. Reports of starvation-related deaths, especially among children, are rising sharply. Most alarming are recent allegations of chemical weapons use by Sudan’s military, which, if confirmed, would mark a grave escalation in the conflict.
“Growing numbers of people are showing symptoms consistent with exposure to toxic chemicals—severe skin blistering, rashes, vomiting blood, and respiratory problems,” said Abdelbegi Jibril, President of the Sudan Knowledge Centre, during a side event at the Forum. These symptoms, he noted, are consistent with contact with vesicant or blister agents, underscoring the urgent need for independent investigation.
International alarm over the alleged use of chemical weapons intensified in May 2025, when the U.S. State Department publicly determined that the Sudanese government had deployed chemical agents against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in 2024. The U.S. cited a September 2024 incident at the Garri military base near al-Jaili, in which an industrial chlorine barrel was reportedly dropped from an aircraft, releasing a toxic yellow-green gas. The United States responded with new sanctions against Sudan’s military authorities.
The issue has also drawn the attention of African states. In June 2025, the governments of Chad, Benin, Mauritania, and Guinea-Bissau invoked the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), formally demanding clarifications from Sudan and calling for a thorough, independent investigation into mounting evidence of chemical weapons use.
Sudan’s government has denied the accusations, characterizing them as “baseless and politically motivated.” In September, Khartoum released a report dismissing the US claims, asserting that field tests and medical reports showed no evidence of chemical contamination. Nevertheless, Sudanese civil society and international human rights organizations remain deeply concerned.
At the Banjul Forum, Sudanese groups urged African states, particularly those with influential roles in regional and international bodies—such as The Gambia, a member of both the AU’s Peace and Security Council and the UN Human Rights Council—to take decisive action. “The use of chemical weapons in Sudan has led to devastating consequences, including civilian casualties, long-term health problems for survivors, and widespread fear and displacement,” the civil society resolution stated. “Such acts constitute war crimes and demand a robust response from the continent and beyond.”
The resolution welcomed Sudan’s stated commitment to investigate the allegations and noted the formation of a national committee to address the issue. However, it called on Sudan to fully cooperate with the OPCW and allow technical teams to conduct a transparent, independent, and timely investigation.
The Forum, which promotes collaboration among African NGOs and the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), placed a special focus on reparatory justice for Africans and people of African descent during its October 2025 session. As the ACDHRS finalizes a new NGO Bill aimed at strengthening transparency and accountability in the sector, the Sudan crisis dominated discussions.
As the humanitarian disaster in Sudan deepens, civil society groups, human rights experts, and international organizations are urging immediate, coordinated action to protect civilians, end the violence, and bring perpetrators to justice. The world’s attention, they warn, must not waver as millions face hunger, displacement, and the terrifying threat of chemical warfare.
