French military tech found in Sudan, likely violating U.N. arms embargo

November 13, 2024 (KAMPALA) – French-made military technology is being used in the Sudan conflict, likely in breach of a United Nations arms embargo on Darfur, Amnesty International said on Tuesday.

The human rights group said it had identified French-designed defence systems used in armoured personnel carriers (APCs) made in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and deployed by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

The APCs, known as Nimr Ajban, are fitted with the Galix System, made by Lacroix Defense and co-designed with Nexter, now known as KNDS France. The system defends against close-range attacks by deploying decoys, smoke and projectiles.

Amnesty said it had verified social media images showing destroyed or captured Nimr Ajban APCs with the Galix System visible. It said any use of this technology in Darfur would breach the U.N. arms embargo, which prohibits the supply of military equipment to the region.

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

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

Amnesty urged all countries to halt arms supplies to the warring parties in Sudan and to uphold the U.N. Security Council arms embargo on Darfur.

The European Union has had an arms embargo on Sudan since 1994.

Amnesty said it contacted Lacroix Defence, KNDS France and the French government on October 15 but had not received a response.