Turkey’s Baykar accused of violating sanctions by supplying arms to Sudan’s military

Turkey’s prominent defense company, Baykar, has reportedly violated EU and US sanctions by supplying arms to Sudan’s military, exacerbating the ongoing civil war, according to a Washington Post investigation.

The defense giant, known for producing drones, is accused of sending a substantial arms shipment to Sudan between August and November 2023, in what could be a clear breach of sanctions imposed on Sudan due to its involvement in the conflict in Darfur.

The arms, including six TB2 drones, three ground control stations, and 600 warheads, were allegedly part of a $120 million contract between Baykar and Sudan’s Defense Industries System (DIS). The shipment was said to have arrived at Port Sudan, with the final flight reaching the city in September. This deal, signed in November 2023, five months after the US imposed sanctions, reportedly involved 48 Baykar employees and offered in-country technical support for the delivery of military equipment.

This development highlights the growing involvement of foreign powers in Sudan’s brutal 22-month-long war. Other international actors have also been accused of fueling the conflict by supplying arms or establishing military footholds. Despite an ongoing arms embargo on Sudan, the UN Security Council has yet to take action against the countries violating the embargo, leaving the issue of international arms transfers largely unaddressed.