Amnesty Reports French Weapons Used in Sudan’s Civil War Against UN Arms Embargo

Amnesty International reported that French military technology is being used by the Rapid Support Forces in Sudan’s civil war, violating a UN arms embargo. The Galix defense system, manufactured in France, is employed on the battlefield amid serious human rights concerns. Amnesty insists that France must halt arms supplies and called for an expanded arms embargo for Sudan, where ongoing conflict has resulted in war crimes and widespread displacement.

According to Amnesty International, French military technology is currently being utilized in Sudan’s ongoing civil war, which is a direct violation of a UN arms embargo. The organization reports that the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia is operating vehicles equipped with a French-made defense system, the Galix, in the Darfur region during its confrontation with the national army. Agnès Callamard, Amnesty’s Secretary General, stated, “Our research shows that weaponry designed and manufactured in France is in active use on the battlefield in Sudan.” The response from French authorities has yet to materialize, while the United Arab Emirates has denied allegations of supplying arms to the RSF.

The Galix system, produced by French defense companies KNDS and Lacroix, is designed to assist ground forces against close-range attacks. Amnesty International expressed concerns that such weaponry could facilitate grave violations of human rights and urged the French government to prevent these companies from supplying arms to the UAE. They provided verified images of destroyed vehicles showcasing the Galix system, underscoring the risk of re-exportation of arms to Sudan. The organization noted, “If France cannot guarantee through export controls… that arms will not be re-exported to Sudan, it should not authorize those transfers.”

The United Nations first enacted an arms embargo in the Darfur region in 2004 due to allegations of ethnic cleansing against the area’s non-Arab population. In light of the civil war that erupted last year, Amnesty has called for an expansion of the arms embargo to cover all of Sudan, alongside a strengthened monitoring mechanism. The RSF, under General Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, has been locked in conflict with Sudan’s regular army led by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan since April 2023, following a split between former allies. Both factions have faced accusations of war crimes, leading to substantial loss of life and mass displacement of the population.

The ongoing civil war in Sudan has drawn international concern, particularly regarding arms supply and human rights violations. The UN has maintained an arms embargo in Darfur since 2004 to prevent further violence and systemic targeting of non-Arab communities. The conflict escalated in April 2023 when the RSF and the national army, previously allied, engaged in a fierce power struggle. This situation has prompted calls for stricter enforcement of the embargo and accountability for those supplying arms to the conflicting parties.

In conclusion, the revelation of French military technology, specifically the Galix defense system, being utilized in the Sudanese civil war raises significant ethical and legal concerns regarding arms exports in violation of UN embargoes. Amnesty International’s findings underscore the necessity for stringent measures to halt arms supplies to Sudanese factions and reinforce international commitments to human rights and humanitarian protection. The continued conflict and accusations against both the RSF and national army highlight the urgent need for global intervention to ensure accountability and support for peace initiatives.

Original Source: www.bbc.com