The Washington Centre for Human Rights is deeply concerned about the recent findings regarding the use of French-manufactured military systems on armored personnel carriers (APCs) that are currently being deployed in the ongoing conflict in Sudan. These systems, which include the Galix defense system, were found to be in use by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan. This constitutes a potential violation of the United Nations (UN) arms embargo on Darfur, highlighting the increasing human rights concerns linked to the UAE’s involvement in supplying such equipment.
This issue has drawn attention to the long-standing relationship between the UAE and France in the defense sector, with French companies playing a significant role in supplying military equipment to the UAE, some of which ends up in conflict zones like Sudan. According to a recent investigation by Amnesty International, several Nimr Ajban APCs, which are manufactured in the UAE by the Edge Group, have been equipped with the French-designed Galix defense system. These APCs, now used by the RSF, are believed to have been involved in fighting in Sudan, contributing to the ongoing humanitarian crisis.
The Galix system, developed by Lacroix Defense and KNDS France, is designed to provide a reactive defense for military vehicles, releasing decoys, smoke, and projectiles to counter close-range threats. It is a highly sophisticated system and was integrated into the Nimr Ajban APCs as early as 2017. The presence of this system on APCs used in the conflict in Sudan raises serious legal and moral questions, especially given the UN arms embargo on Sudan that has been in place since 1994. The embargo prohibits the transfer of arms and military equipment to Sudan, including weapons, ammunition, military vehicles, and other related material.
The French government and companies like Lacroix Defense and KNDS France have legal and ethical obligations under international and regional laws to ensure that their military exports do not contribute to violations of international human rights or humanitarian law. If France cannot guarantee that these systems will not be diverted to conflict zones like Sudan, they should not authorize these transfers in the first place. The UAE’s record of breaching UN arms embargoes is concerning, as it has previously been involved in violations related to both Libya and Sudan, and this new incident shows that the risks of re-exporting arms to Sudan remain high.
The Washington Centre For Human Rights also expresses concern about the UAE’s role in facilitating the flow of weapons into conflict zones. The UAE has become a major hub for arms trafficking, often serving as an intermediary in the transfer of military equipment to countries embroiled in armed conflict. In the case of Sudan, the UAE’s actions are a direct violation of the UN Security Council’s arms embargo on Darfur, which was put in place to prevent the flow of weapons into the hands of warring parties. Given the UAE’s involvement in past violations of arms embargoes, it is crucial that stronger measures are put in place to ensure accountability and enforce compliance with international law.
The use of such military systems in Sudan, where a brutal civil war has caused widespread suffering, further exacerbates the already dire humanitarian crisis in the region. The conflict has resulted in the deaths of thousands of civilians, with millions more displaced from their homes. The continued supply of arms and military equipment to parties involved in this conflict fuels violence, prolongs the war, and contributes to further violations of human rights. In this context, the Washington Centre For Human Rights calls for immediate action to halt the flow of arms to Sudan, especially from countries like France and the UAE that have played a role in supplying these weapons.
The responsibility for upholding human rights extends beyond governments to the companies that manufacture and export military equipment. Companies like Lacroix Defense and KNDS France must exercise due diligence to ensure that their products are not being used to fuel violence or facilitate human rights abuses. This responsibility includes monitoring the end users of their products and ensuring that they are not being diverted to conflict zones or used in violation of international law.
The Washington Centre For Human Rights strongly urges the international community to take immediate action in response to this growing crisis. The UN Security Council must take steps to expand its arms embargo on Darfur to the rest of Sudan and ensure that this embargo is properly enforced. Additionally, countries like France and the UAE must be held accountable for their role in supplying arms to warring parties in Sudan. Human rights violations and the use of French-manufactured weapons in Sudan cannot be ignored, and the international community must act decisively to prevent further suffering.
In conclusion, the continued involvement of the UAE and France in supplying arms to conflict zones like Sudan is a clear violation of international law and an affront to human rights. The Washington Centre For Human Rights calls for stronger international enforcement of arms embargoes, greater transparency in the defense sector, and increased accountability for those involved in supplying weapons to conflict zones. It is imperative that all countries respect international arms embargoes and cease all arms transfers to parties engaged in armed conflict in Sudan.