Belarus secretly delivers Russian warplanes to Sudan – paper
No jet fighters exported to Sudan from Belarus – Belarusian DefenseMinistry
MINSK. July 21 (Interfax) – The Sudan Tribune reports on alleged
imports of Russian jet fighters to Sudan through Belarus are “rubbish”,
Belarusian Defense Ministry spokesman Vyacheslav Remenchik said on
Monday.
Some Belarusian e-media reports citing the Sudan Tribune newspaper said that the Sudanese government allegedly had received a shipment of Russian MIG-29 fighters that had been secretly supplied to Sudan through Belarus despite UN resolution 1591 which bans supplies of any weapons to the Sudanese government or Darfur insurgents.
Last year Amnesty International accused Russia of supplying weapons to Sudan but the Russian Foreign Ministry rejected these accusations.
MOSCOW, July 21 (RIA Novosti) – A consignment of Russian fighter jets has been shipped to Sudan from Belarus, in an apparent breach of a UN Security Council resolution banning arms sales to the African state, the Sudan Tribune said.
The daily quoted an anonymous source as saying a dozen MiG-29 Fulcrum fighters were shipped discreetly by freight planes via a Belarusian company two weeks ago, but could not confirm whether the fighters were actually sold by Belarus or simply came through the country.
If the MIG-29s are used in Darfur, it would be in violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1591, which prohibits selling arms to Sudan’s government or Darfur rebels for use in the war-ravaged region.
Last year Russia was accused by Amnesty International of supplying arms to Sudan for use in Darfur, but the Russian Foreign Ministry denied the allegation.
A Russian air group in Sudan, comprising 120 personnel and four Mi-8 helicopters, provides transport for UN military observers in Sudan and carries out rescue operations.
The Russian peacekeepers are expected to stay in Sudan for up to six years.
Last May a MIG-29 was shot down by Darfur rebels over the Sudanese twin capital city of Omdurman, and its Russian pilot was killed.