The Hague, 8 October 2004

Sudan’s Official Position Regarding Allegations of Use of Chemical Weapons in the Darfur Region

On 15 September 2004, following reports in the international press, alleging the use of chemical weapons against civilians in the Darfur region of the Republic of the Sudan, the Director-General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), Ambassador Rogelio Pfirter, urgently requested the Sudanese Government as a party to the Chemical Weapons Convention to provide its official position and any other relevant information on the matter.

In a written communication, on behalf of the Government of the Sudan, the Permanent Representative to the OPCW, H.E. Abulegasim A. Idris, stated that the Government of the Sudan categorically rejects the allegations, which in the view of the Sudanese Government lack any evidence.

In his letter to Director-General Pfirter, the Permanent Representative to the OPCW indicated that Sudan, as a State Party to the Convention on the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, is totally committed to its substance and objectives, and is an active proponent of the Convention’s universality and implementation.

Ambassador Idris also assured the Director-General that as an active member of the OPCW the Sudan would not act in any way to undermine its obligations and responsibilities towards the Convention and Organisation and emphasized that the position of the Sudanese Government on this matter had been publicly expressed and confirmed by the Minister of State of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Mr Nageeb E. Abdelwahab, during the recent meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement in South Africa.