The US has said it will impose new sanctions on Sudan after accusing the country of using chemical weapons in its ongoing civil war.
The Sudanese government is currently in a conflict with a faction of the army – the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The BBC says that at least 150,000 people are believed to have been killed in the conflict, which began two years ago. Many more people are also likely to have died from starvation and other issues in a humanitarian crisis caused by the war.
The BBC said the US did not say which chemical weapons had been used, but earlier this year it was reported that the Sudanese army had used chlorine gas on at least two occasions. Chlorine gas causes respiratory problems and can also irritate the skin. It was first used as a weapon in the First World War.
The US said it would restrict exports to the country and there would also be limits on financial borrowing. These restrictions will begin on 6 June.
In a statement, the American government said: “The United States calls on the government of Sudan to cease all chemical weapons use and uphold its obligations under the CWC (Chemical Weapons Convention)”.
[Image: https://www.securityoutlines.cz/wp-content/uploads/cHJpdmF0ZS9sci9pbWFnZXMvd2Vic2l0ZS8yMDIyLTA0L2ZsODA0OTk3MTUxNi1pbWFnZS1rcHFvaDZuby5qcGc.jpg-1.webp]