In Sudan, Amnesty International denounces the use of French military equipment in the conflict in Sudan. According to the organization, this is self-protection equipment manufactured by two French companies, Lacroix Défense and KNDS. The equipment is exported to the United Arab Emirates and then mounted on armored vehicles for use by paramilitaries in their war against the Sudanese army, in violation of European Union and UN arms embargoes.
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According to Amnesty, Nimr Ajban troop transport vehicles, manufactured in United Arab Emirates by the national group Edge, are used by the paramilitaries of the Rapid Support Forces (FSR) of General Mohamed Hamdane Daglo “ in Sudan, and probably in Darfur “.
These armored vehicles are equipped with the Galix self-protection system, designed by KNDS-France and Lacroix, according to images of destroyed vehicles released by Amnesty. “ It is a system which is integrated into land weapons and armored vehicles, which allows the vehicle to be hidden from adversaries and to fire projectiles against adversaries who get too close to the vehicle. The concern is that the Emiratis have re-exported French war material to Sudanspecifies Aymeric Elliun, advocacy manager at Amnesty International. Only France, when it exports weapons and war materials, imposes what is called a “end user certificate” and non-re-export. That is to say, it imposes on its client a ban on re-exporting the material it exports to him. Or, if authorized, the company must request authorization to re-export the material “.
European Union and UN embargoes
Sudan is subject to an EU arms embargo, while the UN has imposed one since 2004 for the Darfur region alone. The NGO calls for its extension to the entire Sudanese territory. Any use in Darfur would constitute a clear violation of the UN arms embargo.
“ France, for example, in the Sudanese case, would never have authorized the sale of arms to Sudan or war materials in general, because this country, precisely, is under embargo from the European Union and, partially , of the United Nations. So when France commits to selling to partners, it commits to selling to trusted partners who will not re-export in violation of French commitments. So it is essential that France ensures its commitments are respected and, above all, that it stops today the transfers of this type of equipment, the Galix system therefore, to the Emiratis », notes Aymeric Elliun.
One of the groups questioned, Lacroix Défense, reacted. In a press release, the French group confirms having supplied equipment to the UAE armed forces and recalls that these are passive self-protection solutions, the function of which is to protect armored vehicles. The group adds that these deliveries were made in strict compliance with the export licenses granted.
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