Acute respiratory distress, unusual odours, coloured explosive blasts, long term health problems, and environmental degradation are among the indicators that a group of experts has identified as credible evidence to support witness accounts of exposure to toxic chemicals linked to military activity in Sudan between 2024 and 2025.
The findings are described in a 32-page investigation, seen by Euronews, into the use of chemical weapons in civil areas in Sudan amid the ongoing war that started in 2023.
The investigation was led by former senior officials of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), two of whom served with the organisation when it was awarded the 2013 Nobel Peace Prize for its work to implement the global ban on chemical weapons.
The two former senior OPCW officials leading the team talked to Euronews, but requested that their names remain anonymous due to the sensitive nature of the content.
“Given that at least one State Party has sanctioned individuals in relation to the alleged use of chemical weapons, that there are new and increasing allegations of a hidden programme, and that there is strong witness testimony indicating that there was an incident in September 2024 that may have involved chlorine, the OPCW and it’s States Parties need to launch an investigation,” the two former senior officials told Euronews.
