Khartoum – August 27, 2025
Amnesty International has revealed in a new investigation that advanced Chinese-made weapons were seized in Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, during recent clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The report states that these weapons reached Sudan through illicit re-export by the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
According to the investigation, the seized arms included guided aerial bombs and heavy artillery systems of recent Chinese manufacture, underscoring the continued flow of advanced military equipment to warring parties despite United Nations Security Council restrictions on arms transfers to Sudan.
Repeated Allegations Against Abu Dhabi
This is not the first time the UAE has faced allegations of arms diversion. UN experts and investigative reports have repeatedly accused Abu Dhabi of playing a central role in channeling advanced weaponry to conflict zones in Yemen, Libya, and Ethiopia.
The UAE has established itself as a key regional hub for arms procurement, importing advanced systems from China, Russia, and the United States, some of which are allegedly re-routed to proxy groups and allied forces in volatile regions.
Violation of International Law
Re-exporting weapons without the consent of the original manufacturer or without notifying the United Nations constitutes a breach of international law, particularly the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), which came into effect in 2014.
The ATT requires states to prevent arms transfers where there is a clear risk they could be used in human rights abuses or war crimes. It also obliges signatories to monitor supply chains to ensure weapons do not reach irregular forces or actors engaged in civil conflicts.
Although China has not ratified the ATT, most of its bilateral defense agreements explicitly prohibit unauthorized re-export of its weapons.
Implications for Sudan’s War
The discovery sheds light on the scale of regional interference in Sudan’s war, which has raged since April 2023 and produced the world’s largest displacement crisis, with more than 12 million people uprooted internally and externally according to UN estimates.
Analysts warn that continued arms inflows to both the SAF and RSF undermine all political settlement efforts, turning Sudan into a proxy battlefield for regional powers vying for control over trade routes, gold resources, and access to the Red Sea ports.
UAE’s Position
The UAE has consistently denied these allegations, insisting that it “abides by international law and supports peace efforts in Sudan.” However, watchdogs such as Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and the UN Panel of Experts on Sudan continue to document cases linking Emirati-sourced weapons to active war zones, placing increasing pressure on Abu Dhabi from Western capitals.
Conclusion
As Sudanese civilians face famine, displacement, and mass atrocities, this investigation highlights once again how illicit arms diversion and re-export remain a driving force behind the prolongation of the conflict and the worsening humanitarian catastrophe, while raising urgent calls for accountability for states fueling the war.
