A U.N. panel of experts charged with monitoring sanctions in Sudan is investigating how mortar rounds exported from Bulgaria to the United Arab Emirates ended up in a supply convoy for Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia fighters.
A letter seen by Reuters confirmed that mortar rounds seized from the convoy in November in Sudan’s North Darfur region bore the same serial number as those Bulgaria told the United Nations investigators it had exported to the UAE in 2019.
The serial number was visible in photos and videos posted online by pro-government militia members following the seizure.
Bulgaria told the U.N. investigators that it had shipped 81 mm mortar rounds with the same serial number to the UAE military in 2019, according to a December 19 letter from Bulgaria’s permanent mission at the U.N., reviewed by Reuters.
Bulgaria’s foreign affairs ministry told Reuters that no one had sought its permission to re-export the munitions to a third party.
“We adamantly declare that the Bulgarian competent authority has not issued an export license for defence-related products to Sudan,” it said.
The UAE has denied repeated accusations that it is fueling the conflict by arming the RSF in its war against Sudan’s army.
The conflict in Sudan has killed tens of thousands of people and driven millions from their homes.
The United States determined last year that members of the RSF and allied militias had committed genocide in fighting since May 2023.
Asked by Reuters about the Bulgarian munitions, UAE officials cited the latest annual report from the U.N. panel of experts, which details findings from its investigations into the flow of arms and money into Darfur.
The report, which was shared with the U.N. Security Council in April and reviewed by Reuters, has not been made public. Its only reference to the UAE is about its peacekeeping role in Sudan.
