Chad intercepts arms trafficking from Sudan – Military Africa

Lina Portman4 weeks ago

0 2 minutes read

As part of an operation against arms trafficking in Central Africa, the Chad-Sudan joint force intercepted a large cache of weapons en route to Lake Chad. Transportation, including 296 firearms of different calibers, including two RPGs And 17 gunswas presented to the media by the joint force.

The seizure took place during a law enforcement operation in the village of Teleguey, located in the department of Djourfal Ahmar. The presentation of the seized weapons took place in the presence of notable personalities such as the governor of the Ouaddaï province, General Bachar Ali Souleymane, and the coordinator of the operational zones in the East, General Ousmane Bahar Mahamat Itno.

Small arms including AK-type assault rifles recovered during the operation.

This event highlights the ongoing challenges facing the Sahel region, where criminal organizations and terrorist groups exploit their vulnerabilities to traffic illicit goods, including counterfeit weapons, ammunition and medicines. The porous borders of countries like Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Gambia, Guinea, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria and Senegal have historically facilitated legitimate trade, but now serve as conduits for illegal activities.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) highlights the need for a collaborative regional approach to effectively combat organized crime. The illicit economy not only finances but also equips extremist groups, contributing to a significant increase in violence across Africa. In 2022, extremist violence caused more than 19,100 deaths, an increase of 48% compared to the previous year, with the majority of incidents occurring in the Sahel and Somalia.

The most popular weapon, the Kalashnikov AK-47, has been present in every conflict in Africa since the 1950s. A rifle of choice for rebels, terrorists, drug lords and gangsters. This singular firearm has seen the rise and fall of African empires, dictators and nations from the North to the South. Almost everyone in Africa has heard of it and it symbolizes either a tool of self-defense, oppression or liberation depending on the welder. The AK-47 has seen combat from urban cities to the dense jungles of Central Africa, from the North African desert to the southern savannah. Former Egyptian President Anwar Sadat was assassinated by an AK-47 welding Islamic jihadists, Ugandan President Idi Amin secured his presidency for life by arming his troops with the AK-47.

Arms trafficking particularly benefits violent extremist groups such as Al-Shabaab, Ansaroul Islam, Islamic State Sahel Province, Islamic State Somalia, and Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimeen. The use of explosives, often from illegal mining, further aggravates the situation.

The issue of supplying arms to rebel forces remains controversial, with evidence suggesting that the Sudanese government provided support to Chadian armed groups. Despite official denials, investigations indicate that weapons, particularly those of Chinese origin, were sent to rebels in Chad. The dynamics of the arms trade in the region are complex, with bidirectional flows between Sudan and Chad, raising international concerns.

Similarly, in 2021, Sudanese authorities confiscated a large shipment of weapons from neighboring Ethiopia at Khartoum International Airport. The cargo arrived on an Ethiopian Airlines passenger flight and an investigation is underway, without giving further details. According to local sources, the weapons were initially sent from Russia to Ethiopia in May 2019 and were held by authorities there for two years.

The interception of these weapons by the Chad-Sudan joint force is a positive step towards disrupting the flow of weapons in the region. However, it also highlights the broader challenges of combating organized crime and terrorism in a region where state fragility and porous borders create an environment conducive to such activities. Continued support and cooperation from the international community are essential to strengthen regional efforts to ensure stability and security in the Sahel.