September 9, Nairobi — The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have newly acquired modern foreign-made weapons and military equipment, Human Rights Watch said in a report released on Monday.
An analysis of photos and videos revealed new equipment including armed drones, drone jammers, anti-tank guided missiles, truck-mounted multi-barrel rocket launchers, and mortar munitions, which was produced by companies registered in China, Iran, Russia, Serbia, and the UAE.
There is allegedly no evidence that any of the equipment was manufactured in Sudan, though some, such as the large Mohajer-6 drones, may have been assembled in the country.
Examples included a video posted on X in June which shows two men in uniform typical of the RSF, installing the trigger mechanism on Chinese-made 82mm mortar shells, in packaging indicating they were manufactured in 2023.
Human Rights Watch said that the findings demonstrate “both the inadequacy of the current Darfur-only embargo and the grave risks posed by the acquisition of new weapons by the warring parties.” They called for the renewal and expansion of the embargo to be country-wide.