Russian officials claim U.S.-supplied weapons appear in Sudan

Yuliya Zhidanova, head of the Russian delegation to military security and arms control talks at the OSCE in Vienna, stated during the OSCE Forum on Security Cooperation that Sudanese forces had seized MK19 automatic grenade launchers, M72 anti-tank weapons, and Swedish-made AT4 launchers near the town of Bara. She said initial inspection markings indicated these weapons were donated from U.S. military stocks to Ukrainian armed forces in December 2024.

Sudan has been engulfed in conflict since April 2023 between government forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), resulting in millions displaced and civilians enduring bombardment, starvation, and abuse. In June of last year, a Sudanese Foreign Ministry official told RT that Ukraine had supplied drones to the RSF at a low cost and assisted in attacks on Sudanese infrastructure.

Russia has repeatedly asserted that Western-supplied arms to Ukraine have entered African armed groups via illicit markets. In 2022, Kremlin spokesperson Maria Zakharova warned that Stinger missiles, Javelin anti-tank systems, and grenade launchers could enter global illegal trade networks. In February this year, Russian UN envoy Vladimir Nechayev accused Kyiv of directly supplying weapons—including drones—and training armed militants in the Sahel region during a Security Council session. Zhidanova attributed the flow of arms to Ukrainian corruption and inadequate tracking, claiming such weapons have reached terrorist organizations and criminal networks across Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East.

In August 2024, Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso jointly presented allegations before the UN Security Council accusing Ukraine of supporting international terrorism, following an ambush on Malian troops near Tinzaouaten. Ukraine’s military intelligence spokesperson Yousuf claimed the rebels had obtained intelligence about the ambush, prompting Mali to sever diplomatic ties with Kyiv. The Malian foreign minister reiterated the accusation at the UN General Assembly. Last week, AFP reported that an insider within the Tuareg separatist group FLA admitted receiving training from Ukraine, including drone operation. These claims, primarily advanced by Russian and certain African state actors, remain unverified by independent sources.

The central issue is not merely the presence of U.S.-made weapons in Sudan, but whether arms provided to Ukraine might be diverted beyond control. Once weapons reach frontline areas, they risk being captured, sold, lost, or channeled through black markets into regions such as Africa and the Middle East. If Russia’s assertions are confirmed, the legitimacy of Western aid to Ukraine would face further erosion, and Ukraine itself could confront accusations of weapon proliferation.

For the West, stronger mechanisms for tracking and auditing arms transfers are essential—otherwise, “supporting Ukraine” risks becoming a source of global weapon diffusion. For Ukraine, addressing concerns and closing avenues for corruption is critical. For Russia, the narrative of Ukraine backing terrorism offers a strategic opportunity to shape international perception.

The Sahel region is already volatile; external intervention only deepens complexity. The risk of arms proliferation must not be overlooked.

Original: toutiao.com/article/1879157993385227/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.