France 24, a leading French broadcaster, has released what it describes as independently verified evidence of chlorine gas being used as a chemical weapon during Sudan’s civil war. The attacks occurred in September 2024 near the Al-Jaili oil refinery and Garri military base north of Khartoum.
The investigation utilized open-source methods to verify videos and images showing yellow-green clouds, debris from chlorine barrels, and Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) aircraft. Five independent chemical weapons experts reviewed and confirmed this evidence, attributing the aerial chlorine barrel attacks to the SAF.
The incidents involved dropping chlorine-filled barrels from aircraft amidst battles between the Sudanese army and the RSF militia. France 24’s ‘Observers’ team traced the chlorine barrels, which were exported by Chemtrade International Corporation from India to Sudan, purportedly for water treatment. The chlorine was imported by Sudanese Ports Engineering Company, which specializes in public works and water treatment. However, there is no evidence suggesting the chlorine was used at water-treatment centers.
Trade data indicates a link between the importers and military uses. Videos and images showed gas clouds and debris consistent with chemical weapon deployment. The panel of experts confirmed the materials matched chlorine gas delivered from the air, only possible by the SAF. This investigation is the strongest documentation of chemical weapon use in Sudan.
International organizations and governments have called for further investigation and accountability following these findings. The Sudanese Alliance for Rights welcomed the report, stressing the need for an international investigation by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and protection for survivors and witnesses.
In April 2025, the U.S. determined that Sudan violated the Chemical Weapons Convention and imposed sanctions on the SAF leadership. This report by France 24 combines open-source investigation, expert review, and documentation to connect chlorine imports to their weaponized use in Sudan’s conflict.
The claim of importing chlorine for water purification, when used for chemical warfare, is particularly shocking for those advocating peace in Sudan. Chlorine could have provided potable water for six months for one million displaced people in Khartoum had it been used for its stated purpose.
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