Newly produced arms are exacerbating the conflict in Sudan, according to a recent report from Amnesty International.
Amnesty’s report, titled “The Sudan Conflict: Escalation Due to New Weaponry,” which was published on July 24, outlines how foreign weapons are being transported into and within Sudan, blatantly disregarding the current arms embargo on Darfur.
“The constant flow of arms into Sudan is continuing to cause civilian death and suffering on an immense scale. This is a humanitarian crisis that cannot be ignored,” said Deprose Muchena, Amnesty International Senior Director for Regional Human Rights Impact.
The research indicates that weapons brought into the nation are acquired by combatants who have been accused of violating humanitarian and human rights laws.
Amnesty International systematically monitored various deadly weapons – pistols, shotguns, and rifles – utilised by the conflicting parties and advocated for a complete arms embargo on Sudan.
“It is clear that the existing arms embargo that currently applies only to Darfur is completely inadequate, and must be updated and extended to cover the whole of Sudan. As the threat of famine looms large, the world cannot continue to fail civilians in Sudan,” Mr Muchena said.
Since April 2023, the conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has led to at least 16,650 fatalities. An estimated more than 11 million individuals have been displaced internally, and millions are in immediate danger of famine.