Sudanese army thwarts major arms smuggling operation for RSF
December 12, 2023 (GEDAREF) – Sudanese military intelligence has intercepted two shipments of arms intended for the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Gedaref State, southeastern Sudan.
The seizures were made at the Upper Atbara and Setit dam complex, where intelligence operatives set up ambushes and engaged in brief skirmishes with smugglers.
The two seasonal rivers, Setit and Atbara, originate from Ethiopia.
The first shipment, containing 85 G3 automatic rifles, was intercepted along the Butana Plain in the Sedira area. A second shipment of 107 automatic rifles was seized in the Jabal Al-Dhara area after a brief altercation.
According to military sources, the arms were smuggled into Sudan from an undisclosed neighbouring country with the support of an unnamed Arab nation. The weapons were transported into Sudan via boats that crossed the border at the Upper Atbara and Setit dam complex.
The shipment was reportedly intended to bolster the RSF’s capabilities following their recent attack on a police station in the Butana Plain.
A former northern Sudanese army officer named Abu Aqla Kikl, who hails from Al-Butana and joined the RSF in August, maintains a presence in the area with his fighters while residing in Khartoum State.
The Butana Plain – encompasses Gedaref State and portions of Kassala, River Nile, Khartoum, Al Jazirah, and Sennar States – has witnessed recurrent clashes and instability due to its proximity to the border with Ethiopia and the presence of armed groups.
The interceptions highlight the ongoing tensions between the RSF and the Sudanese military, with the RSF seeking to enhance its military strength. The smuggling operation further underscores the precarious security situation in eastern Sudan.
(ST)