Iran is under scrutiny for allegedly breaching a UN arms embargo by supplying drones to rival factions in Sudan’s devastating 14-month conflict.
The accusation stems from evidence indicating the involvement of Iranian-made drones in recent military actions by Sudanese general al-Burhan’s forces.
On March 12, 2024, Sudanese troops reclaimed Khartoum’s state broadcaster headquarters with assistance from Iranian drones, marking a significant turn in their battle against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), who had seized much of the city at the war’s onset.
The conflict has seen the Burhan’s army increasingly rely on aerial support after facing ground-level challenges, as highlighted by drone expert Wim Zwijnenburg.
Zwijnenburg identified Iranian Mohajer-6 drones in use, equipped with precision-guided capabilities not locally manufactured in Sudan. Moreover, sightings of Iranian Qeshm Fars Air cargo flights to Sudan’s Port Sudan airport coincided with the documented drone deployments, reinforcing suspicions of arms shipments despite denials from Sudanese authorities.
Reports from aviation-tracking experts show suspected arms transport routes from the UAE to RSF bases, a claim the UAE refutes, asserting these flights carry humanitarian aid.
The UN Security Council’s 2005 resolution prohibiting arms supplies to Sudan’s warring factions has been cited, with calls for strict enforcement amid escalating civilian casualties and displacements.
The conflict’s toll has been severe, forcing millions from their homes and sparking international appeals for a comprehensive arms embargo to quell the violence.
As the conflict extends beyond Khartoum, with new areas reporting civilian casualties from drone attacks, the plea for international intervention intensifies, echoing the sentiments of Abdullah Makkawi and countless Sudanese seeking an end to foreign-fueled hostilities.