Human Rights Watch (HRW) stated on Thursday that Sudan’s military may have deployed chlorine gas during the ongoing armed conflict, based on the findings of an investigation conducted by French broadcaster France 24.

The organization emphasized that if substantiated, use of the toxic gas by armed forces would constitute a war crime. The statement called upon the international community to investigate the alleged incident.

HRW highlighted that France 24’s recent investigation included photographs of a Sudanese military base in northern Khartoum and a nearby oil refinery, both controlled by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), where containers used to store chlorine gas were discovered. Additionally, a video showed a green-yellow cloud, a visual indicator commonly associated with chlorine gas.

HRW also noted that the US government previously sanctioned the head of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, for alleged use of chemical weapons, but did not release supporting evidence. Consequently, the rights group urged parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) to conduct a transparent investigation into the alleged incident. It further called on the US to publish the evidence on which it has based its decision to sanction General al-Burhan.

Chlorine is a yellowish-green toxic gas that was first used in chemical warfare during the First World War. Exposure to chlorine causes suffocation, constriction of the chest, tightness in the throat, and lung damage, potentially leading to death. The use of chlorine gas as a weapon is prohibited under the CWC and classified as a war crime under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. The CWC bans the development, production, stockpiling, and use of chemical weapons and requires States to destroy their chemical weapons stockpiles and production facilities.

The conflict in Sudan between the SAF and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has resulted in one of the most severe humanitarian crises worldwide. The crisis includes famine, forced displacement, killings of civilians, and the spread of diseases, all exacerbated by the destruction of essential infrastructure and healthcare facilities necessary for humanitarian aid delivery. According to a UN official, nearly 30 million Sudanese civilians urgently need humanitarian assistance. Additionally, both of the warring parties have been involved in human rights violations.