Amnesty International Reports Use of French Weapons in Sudan Civil…

Amnesty International revealed that French weapons are actively used in Sudan’s civil war, violating a UN arms embargo. The RSF militia utilizes vehicles supplied by the UAE equipped with a French-made defense system. Amnesty urges the French government to halt these arms transfers, citing risks of human rights violations amidst the ongoing conflict, which has claimed thousands of lives and displaced millions.

Amnesty International has reported that French military technology is being utilized by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia in Sudan amidst the ongoing civil conflict, in violation of a UN arms embargo. The RSF is engaging in combat with the Sudanese army, employing vehicles from the United Arab Emirates that are equipped with a French-made Galix defense system designed to counter close-range attacks. Amnesty’s Secretary General, Agnès Callamard, stated, “Our research shows that weaponry designed and manufactured in France is in active use on the battlefield in Sudan.” Despite the serious allegations, French authorities have yet to respond, and the UAE maintains it has not armed the RSF. Amnesty contends that these weapons pose a significant risk of exacerbating human rights violations in the ongoing conflict. The organization urged the French government to ensure its manufacturers cease providing such military supplies to the UAE. The Galix system is produced by companies KNDS and Lacroix, aimed at enhancing the defense capabilities of land forces against enemy attacks. Amnesty provided verified images of destroyed vehicles displaying the Galix system, strengthening their claims of its deployment in Sudan. The UN first imposed an arms embargo on the Darfur region in 2004 due to allegations of ethnic cleansing against the non-Arab population. The organization advocates for the embargo to be broadened throughout Sudan, emphasizing the need for enhanced oversight mechanisms since civil war erupted in April 2023 between RSF and Sudan’s regular army, led by generals Mohamed Hamdan Daglo and Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, respectively. The ongoing conflict remains marked by accusations of war crimes committed by both sides, with dire humanitarian consequences, including thousands of fatalities and millions displaced.

The Sudanese civil conflict, which intensified in 2023, has resulted in a complex humanitarian crisis following a power struggle between military factions. The Rapid Support Forces, a paramilitary group, is embroiled in conflict with the Sudanese army. Previous allegations of ethnic cleansing have drawn international scrutiny, leading to the establishment of a UN arms embargo in 2004 specifically targeting the Darfur region. Ongoing violence has been met with calls for stricter enforcement of arms regulations and broader embargo measures to prevent exacerbating human rights violations.

The involvement of French military technology in the Sudanese conflict, as highlighted by Amnesty International, underscores the critical need for rigorous arms control measures. As weapons are utilized by factions implicated in war crimes, the imperative for the international community to halt arms supplies to all combatant groups in Sudan is more urgent than ever. Continued monitoring and enforcement of the arms embargo are essential in mitigating human rights abuses and fostering peace.

Original Source: www.bbc.com