WHAT’S THE STORY?
ARMS acquired by Sudan despite international embargoes are being given to “non-state forces” in terror-hit Libya and beyond, a new report claims.
Conflict Armament Research (CAR), which is funded by the European Union, says it has gathered evidence showing that weapons and munitions captured from armed groups in conflict-riven nations including the Central African Republic, Cote d’Ivoire, Mali and Niger match supplies taken from Sudan’s armed forces.
The claim is based on matching lot and serial number sequences, and the London-based organisation says the findings “support allegations that Khartoum continues to divert weapons and ammunition to state and non-state forces across the northern half of the African continent”.
WHAT EMBARGOES?
THE European Union has had restrictions in place since 1994, with a UN arms embargo imposed on the Sudanese states of Darfur 12 years ago.
The country has suffered under violence and repression for much of the last 30 years.
Fighting with the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) began in 1983 as the rebels pushed for independence for what is now South Sudan. Conflict also took place with the Sudan People’s Liberation Army-North (SPLA-N) in the isolated Nuba mountains area of Southern Kordofan.
The National Islamic Front (NIF) seized power in a military coup in 1989, going on to ban political parties, cultural and social organisations and purge the judiciary, civil service and other institutions in a period marked by torture, abduction and slavery.
War in the Darfur region broke out in 2003 when armed factions rose up against the government, accusing it of oppressing non-Arab citizens.
Hundreds of thousands were killed and President Omar al-Bashir was indicted by the International Criminal Court for genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity against non-Arabs. A warrant was issued and more than 2 million people were forced to flee.
WHAT ARMS ARE GETTING THROUGH?
ACCORDING to the report, tanks, machine guns, cannons, missiles, drones and more.
Examined by CAR last summer and taken from the armed forces and affiliated militias by SPLA-N in the Nuba mountains, much of the material documented in the report is imported from China, with some said to have been repackaged to conceal its provenance.
CAR says this may have been done to disguise arms being transferred to non-state groups outside Sudanese borders, a move which would be a “clear violation” of sales agreements with the Chinese government.
WHAT DOES THE REPORT SAY?
IT states: “The analysis of captured weapons and ammunition contained in this report provides a glimpse into Sudanese weapon stockpiles, supply lines, and sources of external support. These findings provide a significant measure of the effectiveness and impact of arms embargo restrictions, and highlight the continued efforts on the part of the Sudanese government to conceal violations of end-user agreements made with supplier states and its support for non-state armed groups.”
Non-military heavy vehicles made in Europe, such as trucks, are said to have been brought in and adapted, particularly from the Netherlands. Meanwhile, Toyota Land Cruisers used by Sudanese armed forces have also been modified for military use, apparently showing “wider modalities of illicit military procurement”.
WHAT IS THE BOTTOM LINE?
THAT the Sudanese Government “continues to benefit from relatively unrestricted access to military imports”, despite measures enacted by the international community, allegedly passing this material to its allies across borders.
The organisation says its report highlights “the limitations of arms embargo restrictions and failures on the part of suppliers to adequately enforce due diligence standards”.
The report comes days after renewed fighting in Darfur and follows accusations by al-Bashir that neighbouring Egypt is supporting rebels in the west of Darfur.
The leader said his soldiers had seized Egyptian armoured vehicles after weekend clashes.
However, Egypt’s president, Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi, has denied that his country is helping the rebels.
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