UN report: Turkish weapons found in Sudan and South Sudan despite arms embargo
The UN panel found newly manufactured Turkish rifles, ranging from established brands to newer producers, among militias and other non-state actors.
Weapons manufactured in Turkey are increasingly appearing in the hands of armed groups in Sudan and South Sudan, according to a new report to the UN Security Council.
The findings raise concerns over violations of international arms embargoes and highlight weaknesses in Ankara’s export monitoring system.
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The UN panel documented newly produced Turkish rifles recovered from militias and other non-state actors. These included models from both long-established arms manufacturers and newer entrants in Turkey’s defence industry.
The report emphasised that old stockpiles could not explain these weapons, but instead appear to have been funnelled through illicit supply chains, bolstering insurgents and undermining fragile peace agreements.
Under Turkish law, all defence exports require prior approval from the armed forces, the Defence Industry Presidency, and the Foreign Ministry.
Diverted into embargoed zones
However, the presence of Turkish rifles in Africa suggests that export licences may have been issued to third countries, only for the weapons to be diverted into embargoed zones. While the panel stopped short of accusing Ankara of deliberate violations, it pointed to serious gaps in end-user certification and oversight.
South Sudan has been under a UN arms embargo since 2018. The circulation of fresh weaponry, including Turkish-made rifles, is fuelling violence in a conflict where both government forces and opposition groups face accusations of abuses ranging from forced displacement to systematic attacks on civilians.
Turkey has rapidly expanded its defence exports across Africa and the Middle East in recent years, part of a wider strategy to extend its geopolitical influence. But the discovery of its weapons in South Sudan underscores the risks: without stronger controls, Ankara risks being seen as enabling conflict rather than curbing it.
The UN panel urged Turkey and other supplier states to strengthen certification requirements and enforce stricter monitoring of exports. Without such measures, the report warned, “cycles of violence in South Sudan will deepen as foreign-supplied arms continue to fuel instability.”
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