More than four months into Sudan's devastating war, arms dealers are struggling to keep up with demand for a trade that is booming, at a deadly cost.
"A Kalashnikov? A rifle? A pistol?" said a 63-year-old dealer known as Wad al-Daou, offering his wares with a resounding laugh.
"The demand for weapons has soared so high that we can't possibly meet it," he said at a market near Sudan's borders with Ethiopia and Eritrea.
Fighting broke out on April 15 between army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his former deputy Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, who commands the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
The war has killed thousands, displaced millions and flooded the arsenals of a country already awash with weapons.
Arms dealers say prices have skyrocketed, while authorities loyal to the army have repeatedly reported the seizure of "sophisticated" weapons.
On August 10, state media said a shootout erupted in the eastern city of Kassala between soldiers and traffickers over vans loaded with weapons bound for the RSF.
A security official said it was one of "three major seizures of weapons" in Kassala and near the Red Sea port of Suakin.
"That's in addition to smaller operations," he told AFP on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the media.
- The newest models -
But smugglers say authorities have been unable to curb the arms flow.
"We used to receive a shipment every three months, but now we're getting one every two weeks," Daou said.
Even before the war, authorities had sought to curb the massive influx of arms.
At the end of 2022, a government commission charged with rounding up illegal arms estimated there were five million weapons in the hands of Sudan's 48 million citizens.
This excluded "those held by rebel groups" in the western and southern states of Darfur, South Kordofan and Blue Nile that are served by long-established smuggling routes.
But since the war began, there have been many "fresh faces" trying to make a quick buck, said Saleh, another arms dealer who refused to give his real name.
It's a "thriving market", the 35-year-old said after hopping down from his new four-wheel drive clutching two smartphones.
Demand is high, since what began as a war between rival generals has spiralled to include tribes, rebels and civilians desperate to protect themselves.
- 'Crossroads' -
In a recent video, one of Sudan's eastern tribes showed hundreds of its members -- weapons in hand -- vowing to support the army.
Such shows of force are costly, with the price of a Kalashnikov jumping to "$1,500 per rifle, up from $850 before the war", Saleh said.
More sophisticated arms are even more expensive.
An American M16 rifle goes for $8,500, and a prized Israeli firearm for up to $10,000.
Asked where his weapons come from, Saleh cut the conversation short, only saying "machine guns and assault rifles... come from the Red Sea".
He refused to elaborate on the supply route that the security official also blames for the arms influx.
"Smugglers take advantage of the war in Yemen and the situation in Somalia" to carry out their business via the southern Red Sea, the official said.
"These groups are connected to international arms trade networks and have massive capabilities."
Along the coast south of Tokar, near Eritrea, traffickers t
ake advantage of "a weak security presence", using "isolated ports and the rugged terrain" that others can't navigate, said the official.
"The border area has always been a crossroads for arms deals, thanks to Ethiopian and Eritrean armed groups at war with their governments," he added.
- 'We don't ask' -
The arms then converge at one spot -- the sparsely populated Al-Batana region between the Atbara tributary and Blue Nile state.
In late August, police raided the area, injuring civilians in the process, according to activists.
This is where Daou sells his shipments, to customers he describes as "farmers and herders who want weapons to protect themselves".
Authorities insist the arms they have found in the country's east were bound for the RSF, who categorically deny any illicit dealings.
"We are a regular force," one RSF source said, referring to the paramilitary group's former status as an auxiliary branch of the army since 2013.
"Our weapons sources are well known and we do not deal with traffickers. We catch them," he told AFP on condition of anonymity because he is not authorised to speak to the media.
For Saleh, it is inconsequential.
"We sell our weapons to people in Al-Batana," he said. "We don't ask them what they're going to do with them afterwards."
Artificial Intelligence Analysis
Defense Industry Analyst:
8/10
The article provides valuable insight into the booming arms trade in Sudan, which is driven by the current conflict. It highlights the recent surge in demand for weapons, as well as the difficulty of curbing the influx of arms. This is of particular interest to defense industry analysts, as it provides a glimpse into the current situation in Sudan and the implications for the defense sector. Furthermore, the article touches upon the estimated number of weapons in the country before the war, which provides useful context for understanding the current situation.
Stock Market Analyst:
6/10
The article provides valuable information about the booming arms trade in Sudan, with implications for the defense sector. While this is of interest to stock market analysts, the article does not provide enough information to make any concrete predictions about the stock market in Sudan or the region.
General Industry Analyst:
5/10
The article provides insight into the booming arms trade in Sudan. While this is of relevance to general industry analysts, the article does not provide enough information to make any concrete predictions about the impact of the arms trade on the economy and industry in Sudan or the region.
Analyst Summary
:
This article provides an overview of the booming arms trade in Sudan, which has seen a surge in demand due to the conflict. The article discusses the difficulty of curbing the influx of arms, as well as the estimated number of weapons in the country before the war. This is of particular relevance to defense industry analysts, who can use this information to gain insight into the current situation in Sudan and the implications for the defense sector. Stock market analysts and general industry analysts may find the information useful, but the article does not provide enough information to make any concrete predictions about the stock market or the impact of the arms trade on the economy and industry in Sudan or the region.
This article reveals an increase in the illegal arms trade in Sudan that is likely to have significant implications for the security and stability of the region. This increase in the arms trade in Sudan is in stark contrast to the significant efforts to reduce the proliferation of illicit arms in the region over the past 25 years, as codified in the 2000 UN Programme of Action. The article also reveals the difficulties of curbing the influx of arms, which has been exacerbated by the ongoing conflict.
Investigative
Question:
- 1. What are the sources of weapons being smuggled into Sudan?
- 2. What are the implications of the increased arms trade for the security and stability of the region?
- 3.
How is the conflict in Sudan impacting the availability and accessibility of weapons?4. What measures are being taken to curb the illegal arms trade in Sudan?
5. What are the long-term implications of the increased arms trade in Sudan for the region?
This AI report is generated by a sophisticated prompt to a ChatGPT API. Our editors clean text for presentation, but preserve AI thought for our collective observation. Please comment and ask questions about AI use by Spacedaily. We appreciate your support and contribution to better trade news.
