UN flags Turkey’s lax arms controls as Sudan, South Sudan conflicts escalate

A recent United Nations report is casting renewed scrutiny on Turkey’s arms export oversight, as Turkish-manufactured weapons continue to surface in war-torn regions of Sudan and South Sudan—despite an international arms embargo.

While the focus often falls on the recipients of illicit weapons, the UN’s latest findings shift attention to the exporters—highlighting how loopholes in Ankara’s arms control regime may be enabling the proliferation of modern firearms into conflict zones.

Weapons produced by at least three Turkish arms manufacturers—BRG Savunma, HUSAN Arms, and UTAS Defense—have been identified in the hands of Sudanese military forces and allied militias.

Many of these rifles, including the BRG-55, MKA 556, and UTAS 5.56x45mm models, were confirmed to be of recent production, signaling they were not relics from older caches but part of active supply chains.

“This isn’t just a case of black market smuggling,” a UN official familiar with the panel’s findings stated.

"These weapons originated from licensed Turkish manufacturers, which raises serious questions about Turkey’s vetting and end-use verification processes.”

Under Turkish law, defense exports require clearance from high-level state institutions, including the Turkish Armed Forces, the Presidency of Defense Industries, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Yet, the UN panel believes either these approvals were granted without sufficient scrutiny—or the weapons were diverted after export via third countries with weak oversight.

The implications are broad: Turkey’s burgeoning defense industry has become a pillar of its foreign policy ambitions, especially in Africa and the Middle East, where it has rapidly expanded arms sales in the last decade.

But the discovery of Turkish weapons in Sudan and South Sudan—where the humanitarian toll is mounting—threatens to undercut Ankara’s image as a responsible international actor.

One of the key firms, BRG Savunma, has previously been sanctioned twice by Turkish defense authorities for violating contract terms.

Its founder, Fatih Doğru, continues to operate the company despite its controversial track record.

Similarly, HUSAN Arms and UTAS Defense—located in Konya and Antalya, respectively—are also under scrutiny for their role in producing arms that have ended up in conflict areas.

The report doesn't outright accuse the Turkish government of complicity but points to a systemic failure to monitor post-export arms movement.

It urges Ankara and other implicated countries to adopt stricter end-user certification, more robust post-shipment tracking, and greater transparency in military export decisions.

Human rights organizations have welcomed the report as a long-overdue call to action.

“The international arms trade isn’t just about deals and diplomacy—it has a direct and devastating impact on the lives of civilians,” said an Amnesty International researcher focused on the Horn of Africa.

"The appearance of modern, foreign-made weapons in places like Sudan and South Sudan is not accidental—it’s the result of policy decisions made in faraway capitals.”.

As the conflict in Sudan approaches its third year, and South Sudan teeters on renewed instability, the UN warns that the continued flow of arms—particularly from countries with growing defense sectors like Turkey—could plunge the region into deeper chaos.

With violence escalating, the report serves as a stark reminder: responsible arms control is not just a national concern—it’s a global imperative.

Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith