Amnesty International Accuses France of Violating Arms Embargo on Darfur

Sudanhorizon – Agencies

In a new investigation, Amnesty International reported that French-made military technology integrated into armoured personnel carriers manufactured in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is being used on the battlefield in Sudan, likely violating the United Nations arms embargo on Darfur. This finding was detailed in a report published on the organization’s website on Thursday.
In a briefing earlier this year, Amnesty International noted that it had identified armoured personnel carriers produced in the UAE in various parts of Sudan. New research shows that these armoured carriers, used by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), contain advanced reactive defence systems designed and manufactured in France.
Amnesty International verified several social media images showing the “Galix system” integrated into multiple “Nimr Ajban” armoured personnel carriers, which were either destroyed or captured by the Sudanese Armed Forces. This model, produced in the UAE by EDGE Group, is equipped with the French Galix system, which Lacroix Defense made in collaboration with Nexter, now known as Kinds France. The Galix system, designed for ground forces, deploys decoys, smoke, and munitions to counter close-range threats.
Lacroix Defense explains that the Galix system conceals combat vehicles from incoming threats, protecting main battle tanks and armoured personnel carriers.
Amnesty International’s Secretary-General, Agnes Callamard, called for all countries to immediately halt direct and indirect arms and ammunition supplies to the warring parties in Sudan. She stated, “Our research shows that weapons designed and manufactured in France are in active use on the battlefield in Sudan.”
She added, “The RSF’s use of the Galix system in this conflict, especially if used in Darfur, would constitute a clear violation of the UN arms embargo. The French government must ensure that Lacroix Defense and Kinds France immediately cease supplying this system to the UAE.”
Amnesty International has previously demonstrated how the continuous flow of arms into Sudan has caused immense human suffering. The organization stressed that all countries must immediately halt all direct and indirect arms and ammunition supplies to Sudan’s warring parties, respecting and enforcing the UN Security Council’s arms embargo on Darfur to prevent further civilian casualties.
The organization reported contacting Lacroix Defense, Kinds France, and France’s General Secretariat for Defense and National Security on October 15, 2024, to highlight the identification of the Galix system in Sudan but had not received any response by the publication date.
Observers note the longstanding defence partnership between the UAE and France. A 2024 French parliamentary report on arms exports estimates that French companies delivered around 2.6 billion euros of military equipment to the UAE between 2014 and 2023.
Lacroix Defense has an established presence in the UAE, where it created a joint venture with Emirates Defense Technology as early as 2015, becoming “one of the first mid-sized French companies to operate in the UAE.” Nimr Ajban armoured personnel carriers have been equipped with the Galix system since at least 2017.
Amnesty International criticized French authorities, noting that it should not authorize these transfers if France cannot guarantee that exported arms will not be re-exported to Sudan through export controls, including end-user certificates. The organization also highlighted the UAE’s long history of violating UN arms embargoes, including about Libya and Sudan.