French weapons used in Sudan war despite UN arms embargo – Amnesty

BBC:

French military technology is being used in Sudan’s brutal civil war in violation of a UN arms embargo, rights organisation Amnesty International has said.

It says the Rapid Support Forces militia is using vehicles in the Darfur region supplied by the United Arab Emirates that are fitted with French hardware as it battles the army.

“Our research shows that weaponry designed and manufactured in France is in active use on the battlefield in Sudan,” said Amnesty’s Secretary General Agnès Callamard.

The BBC has asked for comment from France and the UAE, which has previously denied arming the RSF.

Aid workers say the conflict in Sudan has led to one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, with many thousands at risk of famine.

The Galix defence system – made in France by companies KNDS and Lacroix – is used for land forces to help counter close-range attacks.

Amnesty said the weapons could be used to commit or facilitate serious rights violations, adding that the French government must ensure the companies “immediately stop the supply of this system to the UAE”.