Sudan’s ongoing civil war has taken a troubling turn as evidence emerges linking Bulgarian-made weapons, originally exported to the United Arab Emirates, to fighters on the ground. Despite a European Union arms embargo on Sudan, 15,000 mortar shells manufactured by Bulgaria’s Dunarit company were reportedly used by Sudanese paramilitary forces, raising fresh concerns about illicit arms flows fueling the brutal conflict.
The weapons, according to Bulgarian officials, were legally sold to the UAE’s Ministry of Defense in 2020. Sofia maintains that it has not violated any sanctions, citing end-user certificates and proper documentation. “The products were delivered to a government agency in a country not under UN sanctions,” the Ministry of Economy said in a statement.
However, footage circulating online since late 2024 appears to show the same 81mm mortar shells in the hands of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) — a paramilitary group engaged in fierce fighting with Sudan’s army, led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. The RSF, under General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, also known as Hemedti, has been accused of mass atrocities, especially in Darfur, where a genocide case is currently underway at the International Court of Justice.
The Sudanese government has accused the UAE of arming the RSF, though Abu Dhabi denies involvement, as does the RSF leadership. UN-appointed sanctions experts earlier this year reported a suspected arms supply route from Abu Dhabi through Chad into Darfur, despite international efforts to stem the flow of weapons into the war-torn country.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres recently warned that the continued influx of weapons and fighters is prolonging what he called a “brutal” war. Since the conflict erupted in April 2023, more than 13 million people have been displaced and tens of thousands killed.
As the crisis deepens, the controversy surrounding the Bulgarian mortars highlights the murky global arms trade and the difficulties in enforcing end-use agreements. What was intended as a routine arms export to a trusted partner may now be seen as an indirect contribution to one of Africa’s deadliest conflicts.