Former OPCW officials cite possible chemical weapons use by Sudanese army
Former senior officials of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) said that evidence they collected indicates the possible use of chemical weapons by the Sudanese Armed Forces during attacks in 2024–2025. As The National reports, the former OPCW representatives called on the organisation to launch an investigation.
Testimony in Nairobi
The former OPCW officials spoke in Nairobi, Kenya, with eight witnesses who had left Sudan because of the war. According to them, the interviewees described several credible cases of unexplained illnesses following military activity.
Those interviewed included emergency responders, medics who assisted victims, as well as people who, according to the report, were directly exposed during the attacks. The former officials described as most significant the testimony of two people about an attack on the Al-Jili oil refinery in Sudan’s capital, Khartoum. At the time, the facility was controlled by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, against which the Sudanese Armed Forces were fighting.
Witnesses reported barrel-shaped objects in the sky, unusual smells, unidentified emissions and explosions. They also described acute respiratory symptoms and changes in nearby vegetation. The Sudanese Armed Forces have consistently denied using chemical weapons.
More current news is available on the UA.News Telegram channel Telegram.
Previous accusations
The war in Sudan began in April 2023 amid a power struggle between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces. Both sides have been accused of serious violations.
The United States previously held the Sudanese Armed Forces responsible for attacks involving chlorine gas in 2024 and imposed sanctions on the army-linked government. The New York Times and The Washington Post reported that, according to their information, the Sudanese military used chemical weapons, built a secret stockpile and tried to conceal it, and also conducted explosive tests in the desert.
According to the source, the war has claimed tens of thousands of lives, forced millions of people to leave their homes and caused one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises. Approximately 20 million people are suffering from hunger.
Download our app
Credit: Source link