Sudanese rights group files ICC complaint against army chiefs over alleged chemical attacks 

The Sudanese Alliance for Rights (SAR) said Thursday it has filed a complaint with the International Criminal Court against four senior figures in the Port Sudan–based authorities—including council chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan—alleging the use of chemical weapons and other grave violations against civilians. SAR also urged the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to open parallel investigations. 

The alliance, working with a team of international lawyers, said the complaint targets al-Burhan, Yasser al-Atta, Shams al-Din Kabbashi, and Maj. Gen. al-Tahir Mohamed. It calls for a comprehensive investigation and accountability for those responsible for these crimes. 

In parallel with the ICC complaint, the alliance submitted a formal petition to the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights regarding the violations and the use of chemical weapons. It also sent a letter to the head of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) requesting an urgent investigation and the suspension of the Port Sudan authorities’ membership in the organization, warning that continued international silence “encourages impunity.” 

This step comes amid repeated international warnings and reports about the Sudanese army’s involvement in widespread violations, including the use of chemical weapons against civilians in conflict areas. The complaint was filed on September 25, 2025, by SAR and the international lawyers participating in the alliance. 

Rights Drive Threatens Sudanese Leaders With International Isolation After Chemical Weapons Allegations 

Senior leaders of the authorities in Port Sudan, including Sovereign Council chair Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, face a new crisis after broad legal action led by the Sudanese Alliance for Rights (SAR) that could open the door to unprecedented international isolation. 

The legal move goes beyond an ICC filing, encompassing a formal complaint to the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and an urgent letter to the OPCW calling for an immediate investigation and the suspension of Sudan’s membership. Should these international and regional bodies act on the requests, the military-led authority that has governed since the October 2023 coup would come under immense pressure, potentially facing near-total isolation within the international system. 

These developments follow mounting allegations of chemical weapons use in the Sudan conflict and are reinforced by what the U.S. State Department announced in May, when it said the Sudanese army had used such weapons at least twice—adding weight to the latest rights push and placing the military leadership under intensified international scrutiny.