Moroccan journalist and documentary filmmaker Youssef Jajili presented his investigative film, The Invisible Weapon, at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., on September 24. The 26-minute documentary examines allegations of chemical weapons use during Sudan's war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces. It features testimony from civilians affected by the conflict, medical accounts, and open-source research.
The documentary draws on information from various sources, including civilians who describe exposure to toxic substances, and examines abuses attributed to both the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces. US Senator Chris Van Hollen appears in the documentary, stating that the United States has determined that the Sudanese Armed Forces used chemical weapons. He calls for an independent investigation by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.
The film highlights the impact of the conflict on civilians, including displacement, and aims to hold those responsible for using chemical weapons or committing atrocities against civilians accountable. The screening in Washington was followed by a panel discussion involving Sudanese journalist Areej Elhag, Abdullahi Boru of Refugees International, and Abby Schneiderhan of C4ADS.
The panel discussion covered the impact of the war on civilians and displaced communities, as well as methods used to examine allegations of chemical weapons use and chemical supply chains. Jajili's documentary brings together witness accounts and material concerning alleged chemical attacks, while leaving the question of responsibility to further investigation.
For Jajili, the screening marked his first documentary as both producer and director. He is an award-winning Moroccan journalist and documentary filmmaker based in the United States, where he founded and manages Off the Record LLC. He is also a member of the National Press Club.
The National Press Club event brought those accounts before journalists, diplomats, policymakers, and others following the Sudan conflict. Jajili is now seeking to take The Invisible Weapon and the testimony featured in it to wider audiences. His reporting focuses on people who describe exposure to toxic substances and on the evidence that could help establish what happened.
The documentary is part of Jajili's efforts to shed light on the situation in Sudan and hold those responsible accountable. The event at the National Press Club was an opportunity to raise awareness about the conflict and its impact on civilians.
Key points
- Moroccan journalist Youssef Jajili screens documentary on alleged chemical attacks in Sudan at National Press Club in Washington.
- The documentary examines allegations of chemical weapons use during Sudan's war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces.
- The screening was followed by a panel discussion on the impact of the war on civilians and displaced communities.
