The London-based Amnesty International said the Sudanese military was
acquiring and deploying weapons against civilians in the war-torn province of Darfour, according to Middle East Newsline.
"Arms supplied to Sudan from China and Russia have been used for
violations of the Security Council's own mandatory arms embargo," the
24-page report said.
In 2005, the United Nations imposed an arms embargo on Sudan. China and
Russia are permanent members of the UN Security Council.
Amnesty published photographs of Russian and Chinese combat aircraft
said to have been stationed at Nyala airport in Darfour. The report said the
photographs of the Chinese-origin Fantam fighter-bomber and Russian-origin
Antonov air transport were taken in 2007.
The Antonov has been used by the Sudanese Air Force to bomb areas in
Darfour as well as in neighboring Chad. Amnesty said Russia exported $21
million in fixed-wing aircraft and $13.7 million in helicopters during 2005.
Sudan has also been using the Russian-origin Mi-24 attack helicopter in
missions in Darfour, the report said.
Amnesty said China supplied Sudan with $24 million worth of weapons and
munitions, $57 million in aircraft equipment and $2 million in helicopter
and aircraft parts in 2005. The report said Chia's AviChina Industry and
Technology delivered six K-8 air trainers and light attack
aircraft to the Sudanese Air Force. An additional six K-8s -- also
manufactured in neighboring Egypt -- were expected to follow.
"The K-8S is widely used as a basic training jet for fighter pilots,"
Amnesty said. "Some of the Sudanese Air Force fighter pilots will eventually
graduate onto the NAMC Q-5 Fantan after undergoing basic training on the
K-8S," the report said.
The report also said Belarus, Egypt, Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the
United Arab Emirates have also supplied weapons to Sudan. In June 2006,
Belarus and Sudan signed a military cooperation protocol -- three years
after Belarus exported nine BMP-2 military vehicles, 39 BRDM 2 military
vehicles and 32 122 mm guns to Khartoum.
In 2005, Iran exported arms and ammunition worth more than $650,000 to
Sudan. In November 2006, the report said, Kuwait discussed military
cooperation with Khartoum.
"According to the data from Sudan, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates
were sources of small quantities of arms to Sudan in 2005," the report said.
"It is not know whether aircraft exports from Saudi Arabia and the United
Arab Emirates included military or dual-use aircraft."
