Russian Diplomats Investigate Report of Cargo Jet Shot Down in Sudan’s Darfur Region

Sudan’s Paramilitary Forces Claim Responsibility, But Evidence Raises Questions About UAE’s Involvement

Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces said Monday they shot down a cargo jet in the country’s far western reaches of Darfur, a claim that Russian diplomats said they were trying to investigate in the war zone. Mobile phone footage showed what appeared to be a debris field with fighters from the paramilitary force, known as the RSF, showing off what appeared to be identity documents recovered from the crash.

However, documents also shown in the footage from the crash site suggest the aircraft was affiliated with an airline previously linked to an effort by the United Arab Emirates to arm the RSF in the war, something that has been strenuously denied by the UAE despite the evidence.

Investigation Underway

A message from Russia’s Embassy in Khartoum confirmed its diplomats were investigating the incident in Sudan’s Malha region in northern Darfur near the border with Chad. The embassy’s message said Russians may have been on board at the time.

Background on the Conflict

The RSF has been at war with the Sudanese army since April 2023. The paramilitary force claimed in a statement it shot down a “foreign warplane” that had been aiding the Sudanese military. It alleged without providing evidence that the aircraft had been dropping “barrel bombs” on civilians.

“All foreign mercenaries aboard the aircraft were eliminated in the operation,” the statement said.

Further Investigation

Mobile phone footage showed fighters among the burning wreckage, claiming they shot down the aircraft with a surface-to-air missile. Identity documents shown included a Russian passport and an ID that linked back to a UAE-based company, whose phone number was disconnected.

A crumpled safety card, also purportedly from the aircraft, identified the plane as an Ilyushin Il-76 flown by New Way Cargo of Kyrgyzstan. Civil aviation officials in Kyrgyzstan did not respond to a request for comment late Monday.

Criticism of UAE’s Role

The group Conflict Observatory, which is funded by the U.S. State Department and has been monitoring the Sudan war, linked New Way Cargo’s Ilyushin Il-76s to arming the RSF in a report this month.

It said the airline had facilitated the UAE arms transfers through flights to Aéroport International Maréchal Idriss Deby in Amdjarass, Chad — flights the UAE has claimed have been for supporting a local hospital. Amdjarass is just across the border from Malha, where the shoot-down reportedly happened.

“The UAE has used the airport as a waypoint to facilitate weapons to the RSF,” the report said, noting that the Emirates offered a $1.5 billion loan to rapidly expand the airport. “Absent evidence of a significant local humanitarian crisis and a lack of significant Sudanese refugees in the area casts significant doubt on the UAE’s claims that the airport construction is only for a hospital.”

Conclusion

The reported plane shoot-down has raised concerns about the involvement of the United Arab Emirates in the conflict in Sudan’s Darfur region. The UAE has denied allegations that it has been arming the RSF, but evidence suggests otherwise.

FAQs

Q: What is the significance of the reported plane shoot-down?

A: The reported plane shoot-down is significant because it raises concerns about the involvement of the United Arab Emirates in the conflict in Sudan’s Darfur region, and the potential human rights implications of such involvement.

Q: What is the background of the conflict in Sudan’s Darfur region?

A: The conflict in Sudan’s Darfur region is an ongoing civil war that has been fueled by ethnic and political tensions between different groups in the region. The war has resulted in the deaths of over 24,000 people and displacement of hundreds of thousands more.

Q: What is the role of the United Arab Emirates in the conflict?

A: The United Arab Emirates has been accused of arming and supporting the Sudanese military and its allied groups, including the RSF, in the conflict in Darfur. This has been denied by the UAE, but evidence suggests otherwise.

Q: What are the potential human rights implications of the reported plane shoot-down?

A: The potential human rights implications of the reported plane shoot-down are significant. The reported use of a surface-to-air missile to shoot down the plane raises concerns about the use of force in the region and the potential for further violence and human rights abuses.

Q: What is the current situation on the ground in Sudan’s Darfur region?

A: The situation on the ground in Sudan’s Darfur region is volatile, with reports of ongoing fighting and violence between government and rebel forces. The region has been a humanitarian crisis, with thousands of people displaced and many more affected by the conflict.

Q: What is being done to address the situation in Sudan’s Darfur region?

A: International efforts are underway to address the situation in Sudan’s Darfur region, including diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict and humanitarian assistance to displaced persons and affected communities. However, more needs to be done to address the root causes of the conflict and provide lasting solutions for the people of Sudan’s Darfur region.