Amnesty International has reported the presence of weapons manufactured in China and provided by the United Arab Emirates within the inventory of Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF). This revelation comes as the paramilitary group escalates its drone assaults, prompting civilians to flee from what was once considered a secure area for aid, Port Sudan.
The organization, based in the UK, stated that its investigations revealed the RSF’s deployment of advanced Chinese artillery and guided munitions in its ongoing conflict with the regular Sudanese army, which is now approaching the three-year mark.
Amnesty’s findings indicate that “advance Chinese weaponry, re-exported from the UAE, has been discovered in Khartoum and utilized in Darfur, constituting a clear violation of the prevailing UN arms embargo.” The report details the RSF’s use of “Chinese GB50A guided bombs and 155mm AH-4 howitzers.” Furthermore, the only nation to import AH-4 howitzers from China is the UAE, which acquired them in a transaction made in 2019, as per information from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.
Despite reports from UN authorities, U.S. officials, and other international organizations, Abu Dhabi has consistently refuted claims of supplying arms to the RSF.
UAE Identified as a Source of Weapons
The findings coincide with the RSF’s increased drone attacks targeting regions controlled by the military. On Thursday morning, drones struck Sudan’s primary naval facility just north of Port Sudan, in addition to fuel storage areas in the southern city of Kosti, as per information from two confidential sources.
“The militia executed another drone strike on the Flamingo Naval Base located north of Port Sudan,” one source disclosed to AFP on the condition of anonymity. The source further mentioned that air defense systems managed to intercept 15 drones overnight.
Port Sudan, positioned along the Red Sea, was previously regarded as a haven until drone strikes attributed to the RSF began over the past Sunday. The city accommodates UN offices and has become home to hundreds of thousands of internally displaced individuals, serving as a critical entry point for humanitarian assistance into a famine-stricken Sudan.
Humanitarian Crisis Worsens Amid Renewed Attacks
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed concerns that the continued attacks “threaten to heighten humanitarian demands and complicate aid efforts,” as relayed by his spokesperson Stephane Dujarric.
The prolonged conflict has had a catastrophic impact on Sudan, with U.N. estimates indicating that over two years of warfare have resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and the displacement of approximately 13 million people.
In response to the deteriorating situation, the military-backed government severed diplomatic relations with the UAE on Tuesday, accusing it of supplying the RSF with advanced weaponry used in the assaults on Port Sudan.
The UAE denied these claims, asserting that the internationally recognized regime “does not represent the legitimate government of Sudan.”
Civilians Endure Ongoing Displacement as Conflict Escalates
At the main bus terminal in Port Sudan, civilians are attempting to evacuate the city. “It’s impossible to get a ticket without booking well in advance; all the buses are fully booked,” stated bus company employee Mahmoud Hussein.
Among those escaping is Haidar Ibrahim, who is getting ready to move south with his family. “The smoke is everywhere, and my wife has asthma,” he mentioned to Agence France-Presse (AFP). “We are left with no option but to depart.”
Many who seek refuge in Port Sudan have experienced multiple displacements throughout the ongoing conflict.
Power Struggles Fragment the Nation as RSF Enhances Drone Capabilities
Following the RSF’s loss of nearly all of Greater Khartoum to the military in March, the group has amplified its employment of long-range drones. The recent strikes on Port Sudan have hit essential infrastructure, including the country’s last operational international airport, its largest active fuel depot, and the city’s primary power facility.
The conflict has effectively split Sudan, with the army holding sway over the northern, eastern, and central regions, while the RSF controls much of Darfur and parts of the south.