Iran and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have been accused of violating a UN arms embargo by supplying drones to the warring sides in the 14-month conflict that has devastated Sudan. The evidence of their involvement provides a stark insight into the complexities of the conflict and the external influences shaping it.
On the morning of 12 March 2024, Sudanese government soldiers celebrated an unprecedented military advance by recapturing the state broadcaster’s headquarters in Khartoum. Videos showed this attack was carried out with the help of Iranian-made drones. This marked a significant shift in the conflict dynamics, as initially, the army relied heavily on air force capabilities due to a lack of effective ground forces.
According to Suliman Baldo, director of the Sudan Transparency and Policy Observatory, "The armed forces found all their preferential forces besieged, and they had no fighting forces on the ground." This statement underscores the army's reliance on air power to maintain its position. The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) had maintained ground control of most of Khartoum and Darfur, while the army dominated the skies.
By early January 2024, a video emerged on Twitter of an army drone shot down by the RSF. Wim Zwijnenburg, a drone expert and head of the Humanitarian Disarmament Project at Dutch peace organization PAX, identified the wreckage as an Iranian-manufactured Mohajer-6. This drone, capable of flying up to 2,000 km and carrying out airstrikes with guided munitions, highlighted Iran's support for the Sudanese army. Zwijnenburg identified another version of this drone in a satellite image of the army’s Wadi Seidna military base, indicating the presence of multiple units.
Three weeks later, another drone downed by the RSF was identified as the Zajil-3, a locally manufactured version of the Iranian Ababil-3 drone. The use of these drones, observed by PAX, suggested active Iranian support for the Sudanese army. Sudan's governing council has denied acquiring weapons from Iran, but Zwijnenburg argues, "If these drones are equipped with guided munitions, it means they were supplied by Iran because those munitions are not produced in Sudan."
Further evidence emerged in early December 2023, when a Boeing 747 from Iranian cargo carrier Qeshm Fars Air was tracked to Port Sudan airport, allegedly transporting weapons. This flight was repeated multiple times until the end of January, coinciding with the documented use of Iranian drones. Qeshm Fars Air faces US sanctions for transporting weapons and fighters across the Middle East, particularly to Syria, Iran's ally.
Sudan had a history of military cooperation with Iran, which ended in 2016 due to regional conflicts. However, since the current conflict began, Sudan has restored relations with Tehran. "Iran is looking for a foothold in the region. If they find geostrategic concessions, they will certainly provide more advanced and numerous drones," says Baldo.
Meanwhile, the RSF has been using quadcopter drones made from commercial components, capable of dropping 120mm mortar shells. Amnesty International's weapons expert Brian Castner attributes these to the UAE, which has supplied similar drones to allies in conflicts in Ethiopia and Yemen. A UN report detailed an air bridge allegedly transporting weapons from the UAE to the RSF via Chad, a claim the UAE denies, insisting the flights delivered humanitarian aid.
The drones violate a 2005 UN Security Council resolution prohibiting the supply of weapons to Sudan. "The Security Council must take responsibility and immediately enforce a comprehensive arms embargo on all of Sudan," says Castner. Since the drones appeared, the Sudanese army has broken several sieges, while the RSF has withdrawn from some areas in Khartoum.
The human toll has been immense. Over 16,650 civilians have been killed, and 12 million displaced, the highest displacement in any current conflict. Abdullah Makkawi, a Khartoum resident who fled to Egypt, recounted surviving a drone attack. "We survived by a miracle," he says, fearing for his family's safety as drones continue to pose a threat even in supposed safe zones.
The conflict has spread to new regions, with civilian deaths from drone attacks reported in northern, eastern, and central Sudan. The involvement of Iranian and UAE drones underscores the international dimensions of Sudan's war. Without decisive global action to halt arms supplies, the cycle of violence and suffering is likely to continue, exacerbating the already dire humanitarian crisis.
