Sudan civilian bloc demands OPCW probe into army chemical weapons use
November 29, 2025 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan’s Civil Democratic Alliance “Somoud” on Friday demanded an immediate probe by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) into what it called “credible reports” that the army has used chemical weapons.
In a statement released on November 29, the alliance expressed “deep concern over the credible reports revealed by the U.S. government, as well as those circulated by international media outlets,” regarding the SAF’s use of chemical weapons—a practice they denounced as a “grave crime.”
The alliance asserted that the use of chemical weapons constitutes a “blatant violation of international humanitarian law, the Chemical Weapons Convention.”
It subsequently called on the SAF to immediately cease their use, to “enable the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), the relevant UN mechanisms to conduct an independent, swift, transparent international investigation to uncover the full truth, hold those responsible accountable.”
The statement follows months of escalating international concern, specific allegations regarding the use of prohibited agents in the two-year-long conflict between the SAF, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
The United States formally determined in May 2025 that the Government of Sudan had used chemical weapons in 2024, subsequently imposing sanctions on the country.
While the Sudanese government has consistently denied the accusations, labelling them as “baseless, political blackmail,” investigative reports by international media outlets have published evidence documenting the alleged use of chlorine gas.
Specifically, an investigation by the France 24 Observers team, released on November 29, 2025, provided evidence documenting the army’s likely use of chlorine gas in two incidents in September 2024 at the al-Jaili oil refinery north of Khartoum. The report indicated that chlorine barrels, traced to a consignment imported from India for water purification, were dropped from an aircraft, a capability only held by the SAF.
Concluding its statement, “Somoud” reiterated that the continuation of the conflict would only lead to further crimes targeting unarmed civilians.
The alliance declared that the “urgent priority” is to stop the war, reach a “just, sustainable peace that delivers justice for victims, punishes perpetrators—a goal we will continue to work toward until it is achieved.”