Turkish defence firm linked to Sudan’s devastating civil war after alleged secret arms shipment
A report by the Washington Post claims that Baykar, a top Turkish defence company, supplied $120 million worth of weapons and ammunition to the Sudanese army between August and November last year.
Baykar’s Alleged Arms Deal with Sudan
Baykar, a leading supplier of drones and defence equipment, has been linked to Sudan’s ongoing war. The Washington Post report suggests that these shipments may violate EU and US-led sanctions on Darfur.
According to the report, the first shipment arrived in August at Port Sudan, a key city on Sudan’s eastern Red Sea coast. The final delivery allegedly took place on September 15. The contract, signed by Mirghani Idris Suleiman, head of Sudan’s Defense Industries System (DIS), was dated November 16, 2023—five months after the US imposed sanctions.
The contract included six TB2 drones, three ground control stations, and 600 warheads. It also mentioned that 48 Baykar employees would provide “in-country technical support.”
Turkey’s Role in the Sudan Conflict
An internal memo cited by the Washington Post revealed that Sudanese officials told Baykar representatives in a September 9 meeting that “Turkey had become the country that has supported them the most.”
Foreign Powers Fueling the Sudan War
Sudan’s 22-month-long war has drawn the involvement of multiple foreign actors. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Russia have also been accused of fueling the conflict.
In November, Amnesty International reported that UAE-made armored vehicles, equipped with French military technology, were being used by Sudan’s paramilitary forces. Meanwhile, Sudan has filed a complaint against the UAE at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), accusing it of violating the Genocide Convention by supporting the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). UAE officials have denied any involvement.
Additionally, Russia recently signed an agreement to establish a naval station in Port Sudan, strengthening its presence in the Red Sea region.
UN Fails to Act Despite Arms Embargo
The United Nations Security Council extended its arms embargo on Darfur in October. However, it has not taken action against foreign nations allegedly violating the embargo.
Background of the Sudan Conflict
Sudan’s war began in April 2023 as a power struggle between army leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his former deputy, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, who leads the RSF.
As international scrutiny grows, Baykar and other foreign actors face increasing pressure over their alleged involvement in the conflict.
Turkish defence firm linked to Sudan’s devastating civil war after alleged secret arms shipment
