Investigation – European weapons found at the heart of the conflict in Sudan
Intercepted convoy reveals indirect UAE involvement
A convoy of munitions intercepted by a militia allied with the Sudanese army has revealed a disturbing supply chain: the seized munitions bore markings identifying their European origin , more precisely Bulgaria , before being exported to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) .
According to an investigation conducted by the editorial staff of the France 24 Observers , these weapons were then redirected to Sudan , a country subject to an international embargo on arms sales due to the civil war that broke out in April 2023.
UAE’s controversial role in Sudanese conflict
Sudanese authorities accuse the UAE of providing logistical and military support to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) , the powerful paramilitary militia engaged in a bitter war against the national army. Although the UAE has repeatedly denied providing military support to the warring parties, physical evidence such as that from this convoy has rekindled suspicions .
This indirect transfer of arms raises serious questions about the circumvention of embargoes and the responsibility of exporting states , as well as third countries acting as relays.
An increasingly internationalized war
For two years, Sudan has been embroiled in a deadly conflict between the regular army of General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the RSF led by Mohamed Hamdan Daglo (alias Hemeti) . More than 13 million displaced people , tens of thousands of deaths and a humanitarian situation described by the UN as “the worst humanitarian catastrophe in the world” bear witness to the scale of the ongoing tragedy.
Regional powers, such as the Emirates, Egypt and Chad, are regularly accused of playing an opaque role in fueling the conflict with men, resources and equipment.
Conclusion
The case of the intercepted convoy sheds a harsh light on the flaws in the international arms export control system . As Sudan descends into chaos, this revelation underscores the need for greater transparency in arms sales channels and strengthened oversight mechanisms to prevent European weapons from ending up in the hands of groups implicated in war crimes.
