The Guardline — Guarding Integrity in Every Headline
In a decisive shift, the United States has activated sweeping sanctions against Sudan’s military under the 1991 Chemical and Biological Weapons Control and Warfare Elimination Act, citing verified use of chemical weapons against civilians during the civil war ongoing since April 2023.
The measures, effective June 26, 2025, impose:
- A full embargo on U.S. arms and security-related exports to Sudan
- Suspension of all non-humanitarian American assistance
- Exclusion of Sudan from U.S. government funding and international institutions tied to Washington
- Severe restrictions on Sudan’s access to the global financial system
Analysts say these steps target the economic foundation of Sudan’s military regime, already weakened by conflict, and will intensify humanitarian suffering among civilians.
Political Pressure Focused on Gen. Burhan
U.S. officials have directly named Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan — commander of Sudan’s armed forces and head of the Sovereign Council — as responsible for the use of banned chemical agents.
Diplomatic sources told The Guardline that Washington is preparing to freeze Burhan’s assets, restrict his travel, and suspend his international dealings, which would signal the end of his legitimacy and exclude him from future peace negotiations.
Possible Pivot Toward New Alliances
Observers caution that the Sudanese military may respond by strengthening ties with Russia, China, and Iran, while tightening its alliance with Islamist factions from the dissolved National Congress Party and the Muslim Brotherhood that hold influence over key state decisions, especially the continuation of the war.
However, analysts warn this would accelerate Sudan’s isolation and institutional collapse, deepening the political crisis and prolonging the conflict.
Path Toward Accountability
Human rights advocates emphasize that repeated chemical attacks could trigger international criminal investigations against Sudanese commanders and possibly lead to a UN-mandated intervention to protect civilians.
Experts stress that Sudan must end the war, dismantle the military-Islamist structure within its government, and hold perpetrators accountable for chemical warfare to prevent total state failure and restore civilian governance
