Investigation: European weapons found in Sudan

Observers investigated a shipment of mortar bombs that was captured in northern Sudan in November. We were able to identify the munitions as having been manufactured in Bulgaria and purchased by the United Arab Emirates, which shipped them to Sudan, despite an EU embargo on sending weapons to this war-torn country. The Sudanese government accuses the UAE of backing its enemy, the Rapid Support Forces militia, in the ongoing civil war.

Update, on May 5, 2025: In March 2025, Sudan filed a complaint with the International Court of Justice, accusing the UAE of conspiring to commit "genocide" in Darfur by backing the Rapid Support Forces militia. On May 5, the ICJ said it "manifestly lacked" jurisdiction to rule on the case and threw it out. However, Reuters reported on April 29, 2025 that the UN panel of experts on Sudan was investigating the mortar rounds seized in November 2024 for potential sanctions violations.