The United States government is set to impose sanctions on Sudan following findings that the country’s military used chemical weapons against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group it has been battling since 2023.
On Thursday, May 22, the US State Department announced it would ban imports from Sudan if the allegations are confirmed. The move comes after President Donald Trump’s administration determined that Sudan violated the Chemical and Biological Weapons Control and Warfare Elimination Act of 1991.
According to State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce, Congress was notified on April 24, 2025, of the determination. “Following a 15-day Congressional notification period, the United States will impose sanctions on Sudan, including restrictions on U.S. exports to Sudan and access to U.S. government lines of credit,” Bruce said. The sanctions will take effect upon publication in the Federal Register, expected by June 6, 2025.
In addition to trade restrictions, Sudanese citizens will face travel bans to the US, and all foreign assistance to the East African country will be halted. The US has also warned the Sudanese government to immediately cease the use of chemical weapons and adhere to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC).
The sanctions come amid regional peace efforts led by Kenya, which have sparked diplomatic tensions. President William Ruto’s administration has been accused of favouring the RSF, with Sudan strongly objecting to Kenya’s engagement with RSF leaders in Nairobi.
In March 2025, Sudan responded by indefinitely banning all Kenyan imports, effectively closing its borders to goods transported by road, rail, air, or sea. The ban followed criticism of Ruto’s government for allegedly interfering in Sudan’s internal affairs.
Earlier this year, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio praised Ruto’s role in promoting regional peace, though the situation in Sudan remains volatile, with diplomatic efforts yet to yield a lasting solution.
