New Delhi . Amid the ongoing civil war in Sudan, serious allegations of use of chemical weapons have surfaced against the Sudanese Army. The documents, prepared on the basis of confidential documents, videos, photographs and intercepted phone conversations, claim that chlorine-based chemical weapons were used against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) during 2024.
There has been a long-running conflict between the army and the RSF in Sudan. The conflict has created a massive humanitarian crisis in many parts of the country, including the capital Khartoum. Meanwhile, the alleged use of chemical weapons has raised serious questions regarding the methods of war and international humanitarian law.
According to the revealed documents, the monitoring of the alleged chemical weapons program was linked to Brigadier General Tariq Hussain. It is alleged that the army used chlorine resources available for water purification system for military purposes. This claim is also serious because such resources are used to make water safe in war-affected areas and to prevent diseases like cholera.
The documents claim that the plan has been moved forward to mid-2024. This was followed by alleged preparation and testing of chemical weapons at military bases. The report also claims that a large number of such weapons had been prepared by October 2024.
The alleged documents also mention a test conducted in a desert area in July 2024. This was followed in September by allegations of a chemical attack around the Al-Jaili oil refinery. Intercepted messages have been cited in the context of this incident. After the alleged attack, some fighters were also seen wearing protective masks.
Questions have also been raised about the role of Sudanese army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan in these allegations. The documents claim that he had knowledge of the alleged program and was later instructed to remove evidence of it. However, independent and full verification of such allegations would be important to varying degrees.
The US had earlier taken restrictive measures against Sudan over suspicion of use of chemical weapons. The seriousness of this matter has increased further after new allegations surfaced. In particular, the question is being raised as to what level of knowledge and responsibility the military leadership had in the alleged weapons program.
According to the documents, an internal mechanism was later created by the Sudanese army to investigate the alleged allegations. Critics have raised questions about the fairness of the process, saying that if the officers involved in the allegations play an influential role in the investigation system, the credibility of the independent investigation may be affected.
The use of chemical weapons is considered a very serious matter internationally. Such weapons can pose a major threat to the safety of military personnel as well as civilians. Its impact could be even wider in a conflict-torn country like Sudan, where health services and infrastructure are already under pressure.
Now the most important question in this case is independent verification of the alleged documents, investigation into the circumstances of the attacks and accountability of those responsible. If the allegations are confirmed, it could further intensify calls for serious international action regarding military action and enforcement of humanitarian law in Sudan's civil war.