Khartoum: Sudanese parties promote that we use chemical weapons to return to power

The agency stated that the two sides discussed "bilateral relations, the situation in the region and the Horn of Africa, and ways to achieve peace and stability in the region and Sudan."

Salem expressed his country's aspiration for "a new era in relations with France, based on the foundations of integrity and transparency and based on facts."

He called for "learning the facts of the situation in Sudan, instead of adopting false narratives supported by some Sudanese parties (without specifying them) for the purpose of returning to power, such as promoting the lie of using chemical weapons."

He stressed that "Sudan is about to overcome this difficult phase," calling on France to reopen its embassy in Khartoum, which has been closed since April 2023.

For his part, the French envoy affirmed his country's desire to "establish transparent relations with Sudan," indicating that Paris "wishes to contribute to bridging the gap between the Sudanese," according to the same source.

On July 20, the Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced Khartoum's "categorical rejection of the unilateral and illegal sanctions imposed by the United States on Sudan, based on false allegations regarding the Sudanese Armed Forces' use of chemical weapons."

The United States had announced that the additional sanctions imposed on Sudan due to accusations of using chemical weapons entered into force as of July 20, 2026.

The US sanctions include a ban on providing any loans or financial or technical assistance to Sudan by international financial institutions, with the exception of humanitarian and food aid, and also include imposing broad restrictions on the export of most US goods and technologies to Sudan.

These sanctions are scheduled to continue for at least one year, unless the US administration decides that Sudan has met the necessary legal conditions for their lifting.

In May 2025, the United States imposed initial sanctions on Sudan due to accusations of using chemical weapons in the conflict with the "Rapid Support Forces" during 2024. These sanctions include restrictions on US exports to Sudan, in addition to restricting access to US government credit lines.

Khartoum announced at the time its rejection of these allegations, and the Chairman of the Transitional Sovereignty Council, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, issued a decision in the same month to form a committee to investigate the "American allegations."

Since April 2023, Sudan has been witnessing a war between the army and the "Rapid Support Forces," which has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and about 13 million displaced persons, according to UN and international estimates.