The Sudanese Alliance for Rights (SAR) has submitted a legal complaint to the International Criminal Court (ICC) accusing senior military figures of deploying chemical weapons against civilians during the country’s protracted conflict.
The filing names four top officials of the Port Sudan authorities, including General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, chairman of the Sovereign Council.
Also listed are Yasser al-Atta, Shams al-Din al-Kabashi, and Major General Taher Mohammed.
SAR alleges the men oversaw grave violations of international law, insisting that an impartial investigation and prosecution are necessary to curb impunity.
In addition to the ICC filing, the alliance has addressed parallel appeals to the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), calling for an immediate inquiry into reports of toxic agents being used in populated areas.
“Silence from international and regional bodies has only emboldened the perpetrators,” SAR said in its statement, warning that civilians remain at heightened risk as long as violations go unchecked.
The move comes after months of failed mediation efforts by the African Union and IGAD, as Sudan’s army leadership continues to reject negotiations and disregard earlier peace commitments.
Analysts say this political stalemate has strengthened the hand of armed groups allied with state authorities, raising concerns for stability along Sudan’s borders and across the wider region.
Human rights observers describe SAR’s initiative as a landmark step by Sudanese civil society to mobilize international accountability mechanisms.
If the case advances, it could become one of the most significant legal challenges faced by Sudan’s ruling generals since the conflict reignited.
