Amnesty International Calls for Comprehensive Arms Embargo on Sudan
Moatinoon
In a new brief report released today, Amnesty International stated that the continuous flow of weapons into the country is fueling the conflict in Sudan. The organization called for a comprehensive arms embargo on Sudan, emphasizing that a ban limited to Darfur is insufficient to protect civilians.
The brief report, titled "New Weapons Fueling Conflict in Sudan," documents how recently manufactured foreign weapons have been transferred to Sudan and its surroundings, in blatant violation of the current arms embargo on Darfur.
The organization reported that large quantities of newly manufactured or transferred weapons and ammunition from countries including China, Russia, Serbia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen are being brought into Sudan, and in some cases, redirected to Darfur.
To date, more than 16,650 people have died since the conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces escalated in April 2023. Amnesty International has documented civilian casualties resulting from both indiscriminate and deliberate direct attacks. Some violations of international humanitarian law committed by the parties to the conflict amount to war crimes. It is estimated that over 11 million people have been internally displaced and millions are at imminent risk of famine.
Deprose Muchena, Senior Director for Regional Impact at Amnesty International, stated, “The continuous flow of weapons into Sudan continues to cause civilian deaths and suffering on a massive scale.”
“Our research shows that weapons entering the country have been placed in the hands of fighters accused of violating international humanitarian and human rights laws. We have systematically traced a range of lethal weapons – including handguns, close and long-range rifles – used by the warring forces in Sudan.
“It is clear that the current arms embargo, which only applies to Darfur, is wholly inadequate and must be updated and expanded to include the entire country of Sudan. This is a humanitarian crisis that cannot be ignored. As the specter of famine looms large, the world cannot continue to abandon the civilians in Sudan.”
The organization analyzed over 1,900 shipping records from two different sources providing trade data, and reviewed open-source and digital evidence – including nearly 2,000 images and videos – showing recently manufactured or imported weapons in Sudan. Additionally, the organization conducted interviews with 17 regional experts on weapons and conflict in Sudan between February and March 2024 to verify data analysis and investigate arms supply lines used by various groups.
Amnesty International identified recently manufactured or transferred small arms and ammunition from a range of countries used by different parties in the battlefield. Both sides of the conflict have used advanced drone jamming devices, mortar shells, and anti-materiel rifles made in China. The Rapid Support Forces have used a variety of recently manufactured armored personnel carriers imported from the United Arab Emirates.
Deprose Muchena stated, “The UN Security Council must urgently expand the arms embargo to cover the rest of Sudan and also strengthen its monitoring and verification mechanisms.”
“It must monitor and effectively prevent illegal international arms transfers and shipments into the country, covering the broadest possible range of weapons to combat the widespread diversion of short-range rifles, hunting rifles, and blank-firing pistols and their related ammunition.”
