The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is supplying Chinese-made weapons to Sudan in violation of an arms embargo, a report by Amnesty International said, Middle East Eye reported on May 8th.
The organisation’s investigation revealed that Chinese-manufactured arms had surfaced in Khartoum. The arms were GB50A guided bombs and 155mm AH-4 howitzers. Amnesty identified the guided bombs as products of the Norinco Group, a Chinese state-owned defence firm.
The group noted this marks the first recorded use of these bombs in an active war. As China is a signatory to the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), Amnesty urged Beijing to halt sales to the UAE to prevent further re-export to Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The RSF stand accused of ethnic cleansing, human rights abuses, and sexual violence.
“This is clear evidence that sophisticated Chinese-made guided bombs and howitzers have been used in Sudan,” said Brian Castner, head of crisis research at Amnesty. He called the presence of these Chinese bombs in North Darfur a “clear violation” of the arms embargo by the UAE.
Castner demanded an immediate end to the UAE’s arms transfers to the RSF and called for all international arms sales to the UAE to be suspended. “Civilians are being killed and injured because of global inaction, while the UAE continues to flout the embargo,” he added.
Sudan has since cut diplomatic ties with the UAE after the International Court of Justice dropped its case accusing Abu Dhabi of genocide complicity. Meanwhile, Port Sudan faced drone attacks, which the UAE vehemently denounced.
Middle East Eye
+ There are no comments
Add yours