On Thursday, Amnesty International revealed that arms produced in China and supplied by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are allegedly being utilized by paramilitary forces in Sudan, in breach of a United Nations arms ban. The rights organization stated that advanced weaponry, such as GB50A guided bombs and 155mm AH-4 howitzers, has been identified in the possession of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) within Khartoum and Darfur.
The RSF has been embroiled in a violent struggle with Sudan’s regular military since April 2023, resulting in tens of thousands of fatalities, the displacement of millions, and one of the most severe humanitarian crises in the world. Investigations by Amnesty, which included the review of video evidence and images from various attacks, indicated that the RSF is employing sophisticated Chinese-made arms, adding further complexity to the ongoing conflict.
Criticism has been directed towards the UAE for allegedly re-exporting these weapons, notably the AH-4 howitzers, acquired from China under a 2019 agreement, as reported by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. Despite accumulating evidence, UAE officials have denied any involvement in supplying arms to the RSF, although prior reports from UN experts, politicians in the United States, and other international entities suggest otherwise.
Amnesty International also highlighted the deployment of GB50A bombs in live combat for the first time, indicating that these munitions were most likely provided to Sudan by the UAE. Brian Castner, the head of crisis research at Amnesty, criticized the UN Security Council for its inability to uphold the arms embargo on Darfur and recommended that it should be expanded to encompass the entire nation.
In light of these revelations, Sudan terminated its diplomatic relations with the UAE earlier this week, accusing it of supplying the RSF with cutting-edge military equipment. Amnesty’s report further pointed out the presence of armaments from China, Russia, Turkey, and France in Sudan, intensifying the ongoing conflict.
This conflict has persisted for nearly three years, pitting the Sudanese army, commanded by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, against the RSF, led by his former deputy Mohamed Hamdan Daglo. The war has fragmented the nation, with the army controlling the northern, eastern, and central regions, while the RSF holds sway over Darfur and areas in the south.