Special to WorldTribune.com

MOSCOW — Sudan has ordered advanced military aircraft from Russia despite a UN report in March that said Sudan violated a Security Council resolution and written pledges to Belarus and Russia to not use aircraft purchased from them in Darfour by carrying out “aerial bombardments and intimidating flights.”

Officials said Sudan has signed contracts for up to 38 military
helicopters from Russia. They said Moscow already delivered the first
aircraft in 2012, with additional shipments expected this year.

In 2008, Sudan reported the acquisition of 12 MiG-29 fighter-jets from Russia. Western diplomats said the MiG-29 was used in attacks on Darfour.

The war in Darfour began in February 2003 when the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SLM/A) and Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) rebel groups took up arms against the government of Sudan which they accused of marginalizing Darfour’s non-Arab population.

The government armed Janjaweed militias and carried out a campaign of ethnic cleansing against non-Arabs in Darfour resulting in the deaths of tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of civilians which led to the indictment of Sudan’s president Omar Bashir for genocide and crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court.

“Sudan wants to move away from China and toward Russia for major combat
platforms, particularly those that can be used against rebels,” a source
said.

The Russian business daily, Vedomosti, provided details of Moscow’s arms
deals with Khartoum. Vedomosti said Sudan ordered 24 Mi-24 attack
helicopters and 14 Mi-8 utility helicopters in 2011.

The newspaper said two agreements were signed by Russia and Sudan.
Vedomosti estimated the total sale at up to $200 million.

This marked the first major Russian helicopter sale to Khartoum in 20
years. In 1991, Sudan ordered seven Mi-24s from Moscow, which the sources
said were still operating.

Russia reported the helicopter sale to the United Nations, which bans
arms deliveries that could end up in the war-torn province of Darfour.
The sources said the Kremlin was assured by the Khartoum regime that the
Mi-24s and Mi-8s would not be deployed in Darfour.

The Russian media said Sudan has also sought to purchase Russian-origin
fighter-jets. One report told of Sudanese negotiations to procure 18 Su-30K
fighter-jets, formerly with the Indian Air Force and now in Belarus.

  Darfour, Darfour II? Sudan orders more Russian aircraft after breaking pledge on their use, Mi-24 attack helicopter, MiG-29, now orders more, Omar Bashir, Sudan