Amnesty International reported that French-made military technology, specifically vehicles equipped with the Galix defense system, is being used by the Rapid Support Forces in Sudan’s civil war, violating a UN arms embargo. The organization emphasizes the need for the French government to halt such supplies, citing the potential for human rights violations and calling for an expansion of the arms embargo to cover all of Sudan amid ongoing violence and war crimes accusations against both conflicting factions.
A recent report by Amnesty International has revealed that French military technology is being utilized in Sudan’s ongoing civil war, a situation that contravenes a United Nations arms embargo. Specifically, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia is allegedly using vehicles supplied by the United Arab Emirates equipped with the French-made Galix defense system in the Darfur region, where they are engaged in combat against the regular Sudanese army. “Our research shows that weaponry designed and manufactured in France is in active use on the battlefield in Sudan,” stated Amnesty’s Secretary General Agnès Callamard. The French government has not addressed these claims, while the UAE previously denied providing arms to the RSF. Amnesty International underscored that the French government must ensure immediate cessation of such weapon supplies to the UAE, emphasizing that the presence of these arms could facilitate severe human rights violations. The organization has urged a broadening of the existing arms embargo to cover all of Sudan, noting that the UN first established this embargo in Darfur in 2004 due to ethnic cleansing allegations against non-Arabic populations. Additionally, the conflict which erupted in April 2023 between the RSF and the Sudanese army has led to widespread atrocities, with both factions accused of war crimes, resulting in tens of thousands of deaths and millions displaced.
The backdrop to this urgent situation is the ongoing civil conflict in Sudan, particularly in the Darfur region, which has a long-standing history of violence and ethnic tensions. The current conflict erupted in April 2023, stemming from a power struggle between two former allies, the RSF led by General Mohamed Hamdan Daglo and the regular armed forces under General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. Previous UN sanctions against Darfur, instituted in 2004, reflect the international community’s longstanding concern regarding arms supplies to factions engaged in human rights abuses. Amnesty International is now advocating for the expansion of these measures to encompass the entire region of Sudan, given the magnitude of the current humanitarian crisis.
In summary, the reported use of French weapons in Sudan raises serious concerns regarding international arms control and accountability, especially in light of the UN arms embargo. Amnesty International’s call for immediate action from the French government and international community reflects the need for rigorous oversight to prevent complicity in human rights violations. As the ongoing conflict continues to devastate the region, the responsibility to prevent further escalation and violence lies with both the supplying nations and global regulatory bodies.
Original Source: www.bbc.com
