British-made military kit found in Sudan was used by militia accused of genocide, UN told

British military equipment has been found on battlefields in Sudan that was used by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group accused of genocide, according to documents seen by the UN security council.

- Mark Townsend

UK-manufactured small-arms target systems and British-made engines for armoured personnel carriers have been recovered from combat sites in a conflict that has now caused the world's biggest humanitarian catastrophe.

The findings have again prompted scrutiny over Britain's export of arms to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which has been repeatedly accused of supplying weapons to the RSF in Sudan. They also raise questions for the UK government and its potential role in fuelling the conflict.

Months after the UN security council first received material alleging that the UAE may have supplied British-made items to the RSF, new data indicates that the British government went on to approve further exports to the Gulf state for military equipment of the same type.

British engines made specifically for a type of UAE-manufactured armoured personnel carrier also appear to have been exported to the Emirates, despite evidence that the vehicles had been used in Libya and Yemen in defiance of UN arms embargos. The UAE has repeatedly denied allegations that it gives military support to the RSF.

The UK military equipment found in Sudan features in two dossiers of material seen by the security council, dated June 2024 and March 2025. Both dossiers were compiled by the Sudanese military and claim to present detailed "evidence of UAE support" for the RSF.

Evidence that the UK continued supplying military equipment to the UAE, despite the risk it could end up fuelling Sudan's ruinous conflict, has prompted deep concern.

Mike Lewis, a researcher and former member of the UN panel of experts on Sudan, said: "UK and treaty law straightforwardly obliges the government not to authorise arms exports where there is a clear risk of diversion - or use in international crimes.