US sanctions on Sudan take effect over chemical weapons use in civil war
Exports of goods and technology controlled for national security reasons have also been withdrawn by the US Government.
United States sanctions against Sudan have officially taken effect following a determination by the Donald Trump administration that Khartoum used chemical weapons during the country's ongoing civil war against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
The sanctions were triggered by a formal finding made on April 24, 2025, by the Senior Official performing the functions of the Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security.
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According to the US Government, Sudan employed lethal chemical agents in attacks that targeted its own population, a grave breach of international regulations.
"Pursuant to sections of the Chemical and Biological Weapons Control and Warfare Elimination Act of 1991, on April 24, 2025 the Senior Official performing the functions of the Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security determined that the Government of Sudan has used chemical or biological weapons in violation of international law or lethal chemical or biological weapons against its own nationals," a statement from the US Federal Register issued on Friday reads in part.
According to the notice, all humanitarian US foreign assistance to Sudan under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 has been terminated, although aid deemed urgent for humanitarian purposes or related to food and agriculture will continue. The United States government has also invoked a national security waiver to ensure some flexibility in how these restrictions are applied.
The sanctions have also put an immediate stop to all direct arms sales to Sudan under the Arms Export Control Act, including the suspension of licenses for defense articles and services.
"The Senior Official performing the functions of the Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security has determined that it is essential to the national security interests of the United States to partially waive the application this sanction to allow for case-by-case adjudication of licenses or other authorizations for defense articles and defense services for entities other than the Government of Sudan on a case-by-case basis for the purposes described pursuant to section 126.1(v) of the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR)," the notice reads.
In addition, all foreign military financing to Sudan has been discontinued. The U.S. government has also ceased providing credit, loan guarantees or any financial assistance to Sudan, including through institutions such as the Export-Import Bank.
Exports of goods and technology controlled for national security reasons have also been withdrawn by the US Government. The Donald Trump administration has, however, issued a waiver permitting certain categories of exports and re-exports to continue under tightly controlled criteria. These include exports necessary for the safety of civilian aviation, transactions involving wholly-owned US and foreign subsidiaries in Sudan, and certain license exceptions under US export control regulations.
"These measures shall be implemented by the responsible departments and agencies of the United States government and will remain in place for at least one year and until further notice," the US Government notice reads.
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