The discovery has prompted a UN investigation to determine how weapons, including mortar rounds originally exported from Bulgaria to the UAE, ended up in the hands of Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia.
According to a confidential letter reviewed by Reuters, the ammunition was seized in North Darfur in November 2024 during an operation by Sudanese pro-government militias.
The serial numbers on the mortar rounds reportedly match those of weapons exported by Bulgaria to the UAE in 2019. These markings were visible in images and videos shared by militias after the seizure.
This incident has raised alarms about arms diversion in the region and potential violations of international arms agreements.
Last year, Sudan’s UN ambassador, Al-Harith Idriss al-Harith Mohamed, accused the United Arab Emirates of supplying arms to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which have been battling Sudan’s army since April 2023 and stand accused of committing ethnic war crimes, according to Al Jazeera.
He stated that Khartoum possesses evidence of the arms transfers and intends to submit a formal case against the UAE to the International Criminal Court.
Bulgaria rejects Sudan arms claims
Bulgaria has denied any wrongdoing, stating that it exported 81mm mortar rounds to the UAE military in 2019 and did not authorize their re-export to Sudan.
In a letter to the UN, Bulgaria’s permanent mission confirmed the shipment to the UAE, but the foreign affairs ministry emphasized that no permission was granted for re-export to a third party, asserting that no export license for defense products to Sudan was issued.
In a statement sent to Reuters, Bulgaria’s foreign affairs ministry confirmed that no-one had sought its permission to re-export the munitions to a third party.
“We adamantly declare that the Bulgarian competent authority has not issued an export license for defence-related products to Sudan,” it said.
UAE’s Africa strategy under scrutiny
The United Arab Emirates (UAE), though often portrayed as a commercial and diplomatic powerhouse in the Middle East, has increasingly demonstrated a strategic appetite for influence across Africa, often using military, financial, and political levers to shape outcomes in conflict-affected states.
In Sudan, the UAE’s role has come under intense scrutiny as the country descends deeper into a humanitarian and political crisis.
From allegations of arms supplies to strategic support for militia groups, the UAE’s footprint in Sudan’s internal conflict reveals a broader geopolitical agenda that has been quietly playing out across the African continent.
Over the years, the UAE has been accused of supplying military aid and weapons to various African governments, including authoritarian regimes and military juntas, raising concerns about its role in fueling instability and undermining democratic governance.
Despite U.S. pressure and a temporary halt in support, reports suggest the UAE continued arms shipments through regional networks in Chad and Libya, often disguised as humanitarian aid.
The UAE denies arming Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF), citing a U.N. report that found no substantiated evidence.
However, a Reuters investigation showed that U.N. investigators are still probing the UAE’s role, especially after it refused to release flight manifests for 15 cargo flights to Chad.
Sudan has since filed a case at the World Court, accusing the UAE of violating the Genocide Convention—an allegation the UAE rejects, arguing the court lacks jurisdiction.
