The UAE is sending advanced Chinese-made weaponry to Sudan in defiance of an arms embargo, according to a new report, Amnesty International said its investigation found that weaponry made in China had been captured in Khartoum…
The organisation said they had identified Chinese GB50A guided bombs and 155mm AH-4 howitzers, the use of which in Sudan Middle East Eye has previously reported on, Amnesty said the guided bombs were manufactured by the Norinco Group – also known as China North Industries Group Corporation Limited – a Chinese state-owned defence corporation, adding it was the first time their use was documented in an active conflict.
Amnesty said China should, as a signatory to the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), block sales to the UAE to prevent the re-export of their weaponry to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), the paramilitary organisation accused of widespread ethnic cleansing, rights abuses and sexual violence in Sudan, “This is clear evidence that sophisticated Chinese-made guided bombs and howitzers have been used in Sudanopens in a new tab,” said Brian Castner, head of crisis research at Amnesty International.
On Tuesday, Sudan’s security and defence council announced it was cutting off diplomatic ties with the UAE over its support for the RSF, a day after the International Court of Justice (ICJ) dismissed a Sudanese case accusing Abu Dhabi of complicity in genocide, The move came as Port Sudan, Sudan’s de facto capital and home of its army-backed government, was hammered by drone strikes that began early on Sunday morning.
Attacks began early on Sunday morning, when drones struck Sudan’s last functioning civilian international airport, destroying parts of its roof and leaving its interior partially damaged,The aircraft, which a Sudanese army spokesperson identified as “kamikaze drones” and which regional military and diplomatic sources said are known to have been previously purchased by the UAE, also attacked the nearby Osman Digna air base.
Amnesty said it identified a Chinese-made Norinco GB50A guided aerial bomb as being among the weapons used, The Sudanese government, which is aligned with the SAF, closed the airport on Sunday before opening it again on Monday. A fresh drone attack the next morning prompted its closure once again.
