In July 2026, the United States increased pressure on the government in Port Sudan by accusing the Sudanese Army of using chemical weapons in 2024 and imposing more sanctions on the country.
A dangerous escalation
Karl Gustav, the leader of “Seed-Africa,” said that the allegations that the Sudanese Army is using chemical weapons in the ongoing conflict represent a risky escalation that would cause innocent civilians to suffer even more. Additionally, Gustav pointed out that the United States imposed sanctions on Sudan after it confirmed the use of chemical weapons in the al-Jili area of Bahri in 2024. This suggests that something did happen, but he also cited the Sudanese Army’s denial of this and its insistence on the conclusions of a national committee that found no evidence.
Gustav acknowledged that the purportedly used chlorine gas would seem like a common chemical when used in a civilian setting but emphasised that its intentional use in an act meant to harm people would surely transform it into a “chemical weapon.”
He added: “Chemical warfare is not just another battlefield tactic… it attacks human dignity, weakens international norms built over generations, and increases the risk of imitation and retaliation.”
He continued: “Sudan’s civilians need more than mere expressions of concern; they need verification, justice, and sustained international action.”
Karl Gustav concluded that the wisest course of action is to send an impartial UN commission to uncover the truth about this perilous issue, with the Sudanese Army fully accepting a three-phase cycle for rights protection. Dr Joseph Chongsi, a human rights expert and consultant, said evidence is the most crucial component of the human rights protection cycle, which starts with recording violations on the ground, proceeds to verify the evidence, and then submits it to the appropriate bodies.
While gathering evidence, Chongsi noted that media professionals, investigators, and members of non-governmental organisations have significant challenges. He clarified that in order to obstruct documentation attempts, offenders purposefully destroy evidence and erect barriers. In the context of his comments on the situation in the Kashmir region, politician and human rights advocate Sardar Shaukat Ali Kashmiri illuminated the challenges faced by NGOs and media organisations in Pakistan, particularly the enormous struggle involved in gathering evidence of rights violations and reporting on them. In a similar vein, independent Italian journalist Francesca Marino highlighted the challenges of obtaining proof and media attention when states are directly responsible for the infractions.
Marino cited conclusions she came to while visiting Pakistan and keeping an eye on the situation in Balochistan, indicating that journalists and human rights advocates on the ground face very significant challenges. Angelita Muf, a Filipino human rights activist, provided insight into the state of human rights in her nation. She pointed out that the Philippines is a democratic nation with an effective legal system, but she expressed grave concerns about the International Criminal Court’s intervention without following the proper legal procedures and demanded that its jurisdiction be reviewed. Muf has serious reservations about the way former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was taken into custody and brought before the International Criminal Court.
By Khalid Mohammed
