Violation of UN Arms Embargo Uncovered Amid Sudan’s Ongoing Conflict
A damning report from Amnesty International reveals that advanced Chinese weapons supplied by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are being used by Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in violation of a United Nations arms embargo.
Sophisticated Weaponry in RSF Hands
Amnesty’s investigation identified “Chinese GB50A guided bombs and 155mm AH-4 howitzers” as being used by the RSF during attacks in Khartoum and Darfur. These findings, based on video footage and photographic evidence, confirm the deployment of these advanced weapons in Sudan’s devastating civil conflict.
“This is clear evidence that sophisticated Chinese-made guided bombs and howitzers have been used in Sudan,” said Brian Castner, head of crisis research at Amnesty International.
A Conflict Fuelled by International Arms
The ongoing war between Sudan’s RSF and the regular army, which erupted in April 2023, has led to catastrophic humanitarian consequences, including the deaths of tens of thousands and the displacement of over 13 million people. It has also created one of the world’s largest displacement and hunger crises.
Drone strikes attributed to the RSF have surged, with strategic sites in Port Sudan targeted in recent days. Amnesty’s findings indicate that these strikes may have been bolstered by the use of UAE-supplied weaponry.
UAE Denies Allegations Amid Diplomatic Fallout
Sudan’s government severed diplomatic ties with the UAE earlier this week, accusing the Gulf nation of arming the RSF. Abu Dhabi, however, has consistently denied supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, despite reports from UN experts, US lawmakers, and other international bodies.
Amnesty’s report underscores that the AH-4 howitzers, manufactured by China’s state-owned Norinco Group, were imported exclusively by the UAE in a 2019 deal. Additionally, this marks the first documented use of GB50A guided bombs in any global conflict, further implicating the UAE in re-exporting these weapons to Sudan.
UN Security Council Criticized
Amnesty criticized the UN Security Council for its failure to enforce the arms embargo on Darfur and called for an extension of the embargo to the entirety of Sudan.
“It is shameful that the UN Security Council is failing to implement the existing arms embargo on Darfur and not heeding calls to extend it to all of Sudan,” Castner stated.
A Global Arms Trade Spotlight
This revelation adds to growing evidence of foreign-manufactured weapons fueling Sudan’s conflict. Amnesty previously documented that arms from countries such as China, Russia, Turkey, and the UAE have been transferred into Sudan, with some French-manufactured systems also being deployed on the battlefield.
The Division of Sudan
The war, now entering its third year, has effectively divided Sudan into two spheres of control: the north, east, and central regions are under the military’s control, led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, while the RSF, headed by Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, dominates Darfur and parts of the south.
As the international community faces increasing scrutiny over its role in the conflict, the calls for accountability and stronger enforcement of arms embargoes grow louder.