ARMOURED vehicles manufactured by the United Arab Emirates and equipped with French defence systems have been captured by the Sudanese army during the civil war in Sudan, Amnesty International says.

The rights group said in a report today it had identified the UAE-made armoured personnel carriers (APCs) in various parts of Sudan, including the Darfur region, where they were used by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in their fight with the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF).

It added that the presence of the military vehicles on the battlefield “likely constitutes a violation” of a United Nations arms embargo that prohibits the transfer of weapons to Sudan.

The civil war broke out in April 2023 between the RSF and the Sudanese army. Since then more than 20,000 people have been killed in the conflict, while 11.6 million have been forcibly displaced.

Amnesty’s report said it had identified the presence of several Nimr Ajban APCs on the ground.

The vehicles were reportedly made in the UAE by Edge Group and equipped with the Galix reactive defence system, which is manufactured in France by Lacroix Defence and KNDS France, according to the Amnesty report.

“Our research shows that weaponry designed and manufactured in France is in active use on the battlefield in Sudan,” said Amnesty International secretary-general Agnes Callamard.

“The Galix System is being deployed by the RSF in this conflict, and any use in Darfur would be a clear breach of the UN arms embargo.

“The French government must ensure that Lacroix Defence and KNDS France immediately stop the supply of this system to the UAE.”

ِLacroix has been contacted for comment.

The Emirati government said the UAE is the “target of a co-ordinated disinformation campaign aimed at undermining our foreign policy, regional role, and humanitarian efforts.”

The UAE insists that it is not providing support or supplies to “any of the belligerent warring parties in Sudan.”