{
  "id": 5958300,
  "title": "Sudan army chemical weapons: Secret dossier reveals chlorine bomb programme",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/06/sudan-army-chemical-weapons-secret-dossier-reveals-chlorine-bomb",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-06T09:40:08.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Gulf News",
    "slug": "gulf-news",
    "url": "https://gulfnews.com/world/africa/sudan-army-chemical-weapons-secret-dossier-reveals-chlorine-bomb-programme-1.500664850"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Sudan's army is alleged to have built, tested and potentially used hundreds of chlorine-filled bombs in its civil war against paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). According to multiple investigations by The New York Times and The Washington Post, the secret programme began in 2024 as Sudan's Armed Forces (SAF) fought to dislodge RSF from Khartoum and other strategic locations.\n\nThe project, headed by Brigadier General Tariq Hussain, involved designing munitions that combined an explosive warhead with about 15kg (33lb) of chlorine gas. These bombs were intended to kill through both shrapnel and toxic gas.\n\nThe first test, carried out in July 2024, was reportedly successful. The bombs were then flown from Merowe airport and tested in the desert, producing plumes of yellowish gas consistent with chlorine. Videos of these tests were found to have not been manipulated.\n\nBy October 2024, nearly 300 chemical munitions were manufactured, most stored at Merowe Air Base. Intercepts show that as many as 106 weapons were allegedly used in attacks. The precise number deployed remains unclear.\n\nConcerning the chlorine supply, messages indicate that some was possibly taken from civilian water-treatment plants. Others were imported from Egypt. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), CARE, and UNICEF provided chlorine for civilian water treatment during the war. Both UNICEF and the ICRC denied any diversion or misuse of the chlorine they supplied.\n\nQuestions also arise about the extent of knowledge of the programme within Sudan's military leadership. Intercepts suggest that army chief General Abdel Fattah Al Burhan was aware of the effort. After facing US sanctions over alleged chemical weapons use, intercepted communications reportedly sought to remove traces of the programme. A message aimed to assure Burhan that a base where weapons were stored had been cleared of \"traces and residue.\" However, Sudan established a committee to investigate the allegations, but notably, the architect of the programme was included as an adviser.\n\nThe Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons has received several requests for clarification from nations, and the verification process is ongoing. The US has concluded that Sudan used chemical weapons and imposed sanctions, although Washington has released limited intelligence. Experts consulted by The Washington Post found the new evidence consistent with a chemical weapons programme but did not declare it conclusive without physical inspections.",
  "summary": "Sudan army’s secret chemical weapons programme reveale",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The National UAE",
        "title": "'Get away': One man's account of people struggling to breathe after Sudan chemical attack",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/06/get-away-one-mans-account-of-people-struggling-to-breathe-after-sudan",
        "published": "2026-09-06T12:40:37.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}