Global Concern Grows Over Use of Sanctioned Weapons in Sudan Conflict
Continued use of banned munitions like explosive barrels in Sudan’s conflict raises alarms over war crimes and civilian casualties.
By John Mtongoi Newsroom
August 20, 2026
2 min read
Sudan’s ongoing conflict, which erupted in April 2023, continues to draw international condemnation due to the persistent use of prohibited weapons, notably explosive barrels and Iranian-made vacuum bombs.
The fighting involves the Sudanese army linked to Port Sudan authorities and the Sudan Founding Alliance "Tasis," resulting in a dire humanitarian crisis with over one million people requiring urgent aid.
Humanitarian Impact
The World Health Organization reports that by 2026, approximately 37% of Sudan’s health facilities are non-operational. Between January and August 2026, WHO documented over 900 attacks on healthcare, causing nearly 900 deaths and injuring more than 1,400 healthcare workers and patients.
Local and international human rights groups highlight the indiscriminate nature of explosive barrels, which are manually dropped from aircraft without guidance, making them inherently dangerous to civilians. Amnesty International has described their use as potentially constituting war crimes.
Recent Attacks and Allegations
- In July 2026, airstrikes targeted several towns in North Kordofan, including Umm Qarfah and Al-Hamadab, reportedly using Iranian-made vacuum bombs and explosive barrels.
- The Sudan Founding Alliance accused the army of deliberately targeting civilian areas, including water sources, resulting in multiple civilian deaths and injuries, including children and elderly individuals.
- The Al Jazeera Observatory for Human Rights called for urgent investigations into these strikes, condemning the attacks on residential areas and essential civilian infrastructure.
International Response
The United States has imposed sanctions on the Sudanese army and its commander, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, for confirmed use of chemical weapons during the conflict. In December 2023, the US expressed concern over airstrikes in Khartoum that killed at least 43 people using explosive barrels.
Calls for international accountability are intensifying as evidence mounts that banned munitions continue to be deployed against civilian populations, exacerbating Sudan’s humanitarian crisis.
