Special to WorldTribune.com

CAIRO — China and Iran are believed to be supplying weapons to fighters in Sudan.

A report said rebels sponsored by the Khartoum regime were supplying Chinese and Iranian arms to rebels assigned to fight the new country of South Sudan. They said the rebels were using a range of light weapons, ammunition and rockets.

“Close inspection, interviews with defectors and comparison of thousands of samples across Sudan and South Sudan’s conflict areas, reveals that large quantities of mostly Chinese, Iranian, and Sudanese manufactured weapons were supplied from Sudan’s security forces to Southern insurgent groups,” the Small Arms Survey Bulletin said.

In a recent report, titled “Pendulum Swings: The Rise and Fall of Insurgent Militias in South Sudan,” the bulletin said Sudan turned to China and Iran for arms supplies amid U.S. sanctions on the regime of President Omar Bashir. In exchange Khartoum supplied oil to China.

The Sudanese-backed militias have been supplied with Chinese Type 56 assault rifles as well as RPG-7 launchers. Most of the rocket-propelled grenades were manufactured by Iran and Sudan.

“The majority of RPG-7 launchers employed by southern insurgents are
manufactured in Iran and Sudan,” the report said. “The Small Arms Survey has
documented three main types of launchers: 1] Sudanese-produced launchers
that closely resemble Soviet-type RPG-7 launchers; 2] Iranian-manufactured
RPG-7 launchers with distinct grips; 3] hybrid launchers, probably assembled
in Khartoum, featuring both Iranian and Sudanese characteristics.”

The report, dated November 2013, came in wake of an agreement by Juba
and Khartoum in November 2012. Khartoum has accused South Sudan — itself
torn by a revolt within the military — of supporting rebels in the western
Sudanese province of Darfour.

“There have been reports that additional arms were dropped as recently as Aug. 8, 2013,” the report said.

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