Amnesty International Reports UAE Weapons Systems in Sudan Violate U.N. Arms Embargo

Amnesty International indicates that UAE-manufactured armored vehicles with French weapon systems are being used by the Sudanese army, potentially breaching a U.N. arms embargo, amidst civil unrest. This conflict has led to significant fatalities and displacements. The UAE has denied accusations of supplying arms, asserting that it solely engages in humanitarian efforts in Sudan.

Amnesty International has reported that armored vehicles, manufactured by the United Arab Emirates and equipped with French defense systems, have been utilized by the Sudanese army amidst the ongoing civil war in Sudan. The rights organization has identified these UAE-made armored personnel carriers (APCs) across various locations in Sudan, particularly in the conflict-stricken Darfur region, where they were employed by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Amnesty’s findings suggest that the deployment of these military vehicles likely breaches a United Nations arms embargo that prohibits arms transfers to Sudan. The civil war, which erupted in April 2023, resulted from escalating tensions between the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), leading to widespread human rights violations. The United Nations estimates that over 20,000 fatalities have occurred, with more than 11 million individuals displaced, causing a humanitarian crisis in the nation. While the UAE has denied allegations of supplying the RSF with weapons that have exacerbated the conflict, Amnesty’s report confirms the active use of multiple Nimr Ajban APCs, originally verified through social media images showing the vehicles captured or destroyed by SAF. These vehicles, produced by the Edge Group in the UAE, are equipped with the Galix reactive defense system, developed by Lacroix Defense and KNDS France. This system is specifically designed to safeguard military vehicles from potential threats by deploying projectiles, smoke, and decoys. Amnesty International’s Secretary General, Agnès Callamard, emphasized that French-manufactured weaponry is currently engaged in combat within Sudan, asserting that such utilization, particularly in Darfur, violates the U.N. arms embargo. She urged the French government to halt any ongoing supply of the Galix system to the UAE. In response to the allegations, a spokesperson for the Emirati government condemned the accusations as part of a “coordinated disinformation campaign” aimed at discrediting the UAE’s foreign policy and humanitarian efforts. The government maintains that it has not provided any support to the RSF or other conflicting factions in Sudan. Furthermore, the UAE has outlined its humanitarian initiatives focused on supporting the people of Sudan during the ongoing conflict. Recently, the United States sanctioned a senior RSF leader for his involvement in the illicit arms supply operations throughout the war.

The article discusses the involvement of French weapons systems, through the United Arab Emirates, in the ongoing civil conflict in Sudan. Following accusations from Amnesty International, it establishes that there are breaches of the United Nations arms embargo regarding the supply of military hardware to Sudan. It also outlines the humanitarian crisis resulting from the civil war, which has led to significant loss of life and widespread displacement.

In summary, the report by Amnesty International sheds light on the critical issue of arms supply violations in Sudan, involving UAE-manufactured armored vehicles with French defense systems. It highlights the grave implications of such actions in the context of international laws, particularly the U.N. arms embargo. The ongoing conflict has prompted severe human rights abuses, and the situation calls for urgent international attention and action to prevent further escalation.

Original Source: apnews.com