The Peace Govt: SAF used chemical weapons in Umm Qerfa, North Kordofan

 The Government of Peace and Unity stated that the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) used internationally prohibited chemical weapons in an attack on Saturday that targeted “Umm Qerfa,” North Kordofan state. Moreover, the Sudan Founding Alliance (Tasis) confirmed that the Sudanese Armed Forces used Iranian-made vacuum bombs and barrel bombs, utilizing Antonov aircraft to carry out the attacks. 

 Video clips documented the appearance of a black circular frame accompanied by plumes of smoke rising after the airstrike took place. 

 Ahmed Tugod, the official spokesperson for the Sudan Founding Alliance (Tasis), shared in a statement that 10 people were killed and 18 others were injured in an attack that targeted “Umm Qerfa” and neighboring villages in North Kordofan. He further detailed that the bombing targeted the town of “Umm Qerfa” and the villages of “Al-Heraiz, Al-Hamadab, Wad Musa, Al-Markha, and Umm Teqirat” in North Kordofan state.

 Furthermore, Mr. Ahmed Tugod explained that the attack resulted in the unjustly deaths of three shepherds and two women in “Umm Qerfa,” in addition to the loss of a significant number of livestock whilst utilizing water sources. Hence, the official spokesperson for (Tasis) accused the Sudanese Armed Forces of deliberately targeting these water sources. As for the attack that targeted neighboringvillages, it resulted in the untimely deaths of seven civilians, amongst whom were two children and five men (two elderly men), in addition, eighteen other civilians were injured. 

 The Founding Alliance stated that targeting water sources and civilian gatherings, and using weapons with wide-ranging destructive effects in populated areas -completely devoid of any military manifestations or targets-  constitutes a full-fledged war crime that warrants international criminal accountability. As it reflects the Sudanese Army’s intransigent insistence on pursuing a policy of collective punishment against civilians.

 The Alliance called on the international community, the United Nations, and the African Union to take urgent measures to stop these violations and ensure that the perpetrators do not escape punishment. Furthermore, the Alliance affirmed that its forces reserve the full right to respond to these attacks that targeted innocent civilians, in accordance with the international law and adopting the legitimate right of self-defense.

Calling For An International Investigation

For his part, the Minister of Information in the Government of Peace, Khalid Ahmed Danaa, stated that what took place in “Umm Qerfa” cannot be viewed as an isolated incident, rather, its -without a doubt- one of the numerous recorded instances of accusations and incidents related to the use of internationally prohibited chemical weapons, including accusations previously put forth by the United States regarding the Sudanese Armed Forces’ use of these internationally prohibited weapons.

He asserted that the indicators and evidence available so far confirm that the attack on “Umm Qerfa” was carried out using an internationally prohibited chemical weapon. He called for an urgent, independent international investigation led by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), in an effort to conduct a technical investigation, determine the type of substance used, document the crime, identify those responsible, and hold them accountable under international law.

Thick Yellow Smoke

The Sudan Liberation Movement – Democratic Council, along with local residents and eyewitnesses, reported that an Antonov warplane belonging to the Port Sudan Authorities dropped barrel bombs on Saturday evening, (July 18th, 2026). Upon impact, the bombs released thick yellow smoke, a clear indication that raises serious suspicions about the Sudanese Army’s continued use of “Chlorine Gas,” even though the latter is prohibited under the Chemical Weapons Convention, a treaty to which Sudan itself is a signatory.

The Movement stated that the aforementioned constitutes a heinous crime and a flagrant violation of all international norms and laws, in addition, it serves as further evidence of the coup leaders’ disregard for the lives of the Sudanese people.

In the same context, the Sudan Liberation Movement – ​​Transitional Council shared that the field reports received indicate the use of internationally prohibited chemical weapons, which constitutes a flagrant violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention and the basic rules of International Humanitarian Law, stressing that the bombing of populated areas, which are completely devoid of any military manifestations or targets, is a full-fledged war crime according to the Rome Statute, and a grave breach of the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 on the protection of civilians, which necessitates urgent international action.