Why it matters:
The discovery has reignited scrutiny over the U.K.’s arms exports to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which has been repeatedly accused of supplying weapons to the RSF. The findings raise concerns about Britain’s role in fueling a conflict that has become the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.
The big picture:
The war between Sudan’s military and the RSF has killed over 150,000 people, displaced more than 12 million, and left nearly 25 million facing acute hunger.
Both sides are accused of war crimes, including targeting civilians.
The UAE denies providing military support to the RSF, but UN experts have deemed such claims “credible.”
British export licences for military equipment to the UAE continued even after the UN received evidence of diversion to Sudan.
Details:
Two dossiers, dated June 2024 and March 2025, compiled by the Sudanese military, claim to show UAE support for the RSF using U.K.-made equipment.
Photos show Militec-labelled small-arms devices recovered from RSF sites in Khartoum and Omdurman.
U.K. engines found in UAE-made Nimr Ajban APCs were reportedly used in Sudan, Libya, and Yemen—despite UN arms embargoes.
Between 2015 and 2024, the UK issued 26 licences for military training devices to the UAE, including an open licence in September 2024, allowing unlimited exports without end-use monitoring.
What they’re saying:
Mike Lewis, ex-UN expert: “U.K. law prohibits arms exports where there’s a clear risk of diversion or use in international crimes.”
Abdallah Idriss Abugarda, Darfur Diaspora Association: “The U.K. must investigate how its technology reached Sudan and ensure accountability.”
Cummins Inc., whose U.K. subsidiary manufactures the APC engines, stated that it found no evidence of direct exports to Sudan and emphasized its compliance with protocols.
U.K. Foreign Office stated that all licences are assessed for diversion risks and that its export control regime is among the world’s most robust.
Between the lines:
The lack of transparency around licensing and end-use monitoring, especially for dual-use components like engines, has exposed gaps in the UK’s arms export oversight. Critics argue that even indirect transfers can contribute to atrocities on the ground.
What’s next:
Calls for independent investigations and tighter controls on arms exports are growing, especially as the Sudan conflict enters its third year with no resolution in sight. The U.K.’s role as a permanent member of the UN Security Council adds pressure for accountability.
Go deeper:
Sudan’s PM and UN-SG Warn of War Crimes, Humanitarian Crisis in El Fasher
Hossein Amiri - Mahboubeh Habibi
