Report By: Rehab Mubarak Sayed Ahmed – Member of the Executive Office of Emergency Lawyers
Talk of the use of chemical weapons has caused widespread panic among Sudanese civilians, after clear signs of their use appeared in some areas. In this detailed report on the areas of Sennar and Jabal Moya, I present first-hand testimonies from local residents who have been affected by the effects of these weapons on various aspects of their lives and health. Most residents were forced to leave the area, even after the withdrawal of the Rapid Support Forces, due to the increase in deaths and the spread of disease, as well as fears about the impact of chemical weapons on children and the elderly.
First: Field reports on the use of chemical weapons
A.M., a man in his forties, married with two children and a native of the Sennar region, told me that he traveled via the Sennar road to Rabak to visit his brother on three separate occasions:
• The first was on February 23, 2024. • The second was on the 23rd of Ramadan (March 2024) while returning from his brother’s house. • The third was in May 2024.
He explained that he stopped at the checkpoints in Kenana, Um Dabakar, and Jabal Moya, all of which were army checkpoints, except for Jabal Moya, which was guarded by locals.
(A.M.) noted that he observed a change in the soil within the agricultural lands in the areas bombarded by barrel bombs, where large yellow spots covering an entire acre appeared. These patches spread between Jabal al-Tutt and Jabal Muwaiya (four patches of varying sizes), in addition to about 12 other yellow patches between Jabal Muwaiya and the entrance to Sukkar Sinar, each covering an area of approximately one acre in the middle of agricultural land.
A.M. continues, saying that during those days, there was a spread of severe and chronic pneumonia among the residents, unlike any infection they had known before. He himself has been suffering from pneumonia since September 2024 and has not recovered despite consulting a number of doctors in his last place of residence.
He also pointed to the spread of diseases diagnosed as “cholera,” but he does not believe this to be the case, as he did not contract the epidemic despite coming into contact with an infected relative in the crowded hospital in Sennar. A relative of theirs (Bamerno) died as a result of a strange diarrhea that was unlike the known symptoms of cholera.
Ms. (M.A.), who is from the same area (A.M.), confirmed that three members of her family who were previously diagnosed with cholera are currently suffering from kidney failure. Eye infections have also spread widely, causing severe redness and constant tearing, with a strong sensitivity that prevents the infected person from facing the light.
Second: The soil in the area has been affected by chemical weapons
Citizen (A.A.) reported that his cornfield (Tabat) was unable to sprout corn even 45 days after planting in eastern Sennar. His agricultural project failed completely due to soil contamination, as the corn did not sprout even one centimeter.
A.M., a neighbor of A.A., said that between May and July 2024, there was a large number of sheep deaths in the Rifaiyan desert, stretching from Mount Moya to Dali and Mazmoum (on the border of Sennar). A huge number of sheep died in their pastures without any known cause.
A.M. added that he planted okra to support his family, but the crop failed completely because of the salts that accumulated in the soil and prevented germination. He explained that he found thousands of dead rats and snakes in his field every day. On one occasion, he collected a large sack of sugar (50 kg) filled with dead snakes, while the number of dead rats he collected exceeded 400.
Third: A.M. and his family contracting diseases
A.M. said that he has been suffering from chest inflammation since September 2024, which prompted him to move with his family from Sennar for fear of the effects of chemical weapon radiation. He confirmed that his children had developed a rash in the form of small water-filled blisters.
His wife (H.M.) also had two miscarriages:
• The first in October 2024 in the city of Sennar, • The second in June 2025 at their new place of residence.
He added that there were cases of birth defects among his relatives’ newborns:
• M.M.S. gave birth to a child without eye sockets, who died after birth. • A.M.A. gave birth to a child without ears.
• One of their relatives gave birth to a girl with abnormal features and a nose resembling that of a chimpanzee, who died 18 days after birth.
In conclusion, I would like to clarify that this report is based on direct field statements from the Sennar and Jabal Moya regions, supported by photographs of children born with congenital malformations.
We ask God to have mercy on the people of Sudan from this “silent killer” that now threatens humans, the land, water, air, and buildings. We trust in God and say, “God is sufficient for us.”
Rehab Mubarak Sayed Ahmed Member of the Executive Office – Emergency Lawyers August 29, 2025
