The Distribution of Iranian Ammunition in Africa - Conflict Armament ...

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IRANIAN WEAPONS ANDAMMUNITION ARE INSERVICE WITH FOREIGN-BACKED INSURGENTS,REBEL FORCES, ISLAMIST-ORIENTED ARMED GROUPSAND WARRING CIVILIANCOMMUNITIES.
CASE STUDIESThe following case studies present detailed evidence ofIranian ammunition identified in specific countries andregions of sub-Saharan Africa. In addition to ammunition,the cases also document Iranian weapons, which are alsoin service with government and non-state forces on thecontinent.kENYA, SOUTH SUDAN AND UGANDA, 2006–08Between May 2006 and January 2008 a researcherworking for the Geneva-based Small Arms Surveydocumented 3,382 small-calibre cartridges inservice with a range of state armed forces andnon-state armed groups in the border triangleof Kenya, southern Sudan (now South Sudan)and Uganda. 14 This ammunition included variouscalibres, but the most common type in circulation(approximately 75 per cent of the sample) was theSoviet-designed 7.62 x 39 mm cartridge. Althoughthere was no evidence to suggest it at the time ofthe study, Conflict Armament Research has sinceidentified more than 25 per cent of this 7.62 x 39mm ammunition as having been manufactured inIran (Image 8).In 2006–08 no prior studies had documented thistype of ammunition on the African continent. Inaddition, the ammunition in the sample was largelydiscovered loose (or loaded into magazines) ratherthan boxed in its original packaging. For this reasoninformation such as factory markings or shippinglabels that might have identified the ammunition ashaving originated in Iran was not available.The study did, however, record one instance inwhich the ammunition was found packaged insealed green polythene bags. The bags featured twomoulded handles and had to be cut to gain accessto the cartridges. Each bag contained 20 cardboardboxes, each packed with 20 cartridges. The bagsImage 8Iranian 7.62 x 39 mmcartridge recoveredfrom northern KenyaNotes: The cartridge illustratedis one of several recoveredfrom various locations inEastern Equatoria (SouthSudan), Karamoja (Uganda)and Turkana District (Kenya).The firing pin mark on theprimer cap results fromdischarge in a weaponfollowing the demilitarisationof the cartridge (by bulletpulling). Photograph of aphysical sample held byConflict Armament Research.© Conflict Armament Research,2012Conflict Armament ResearchThe Distribution of Iranian Ammunition in Africa: Evidence from a Nine-country Investigation 23
Page 1 and 2: THE DISTRIBUTION OFIRANIAN AMMUNITI
Page 5 and 6: CONTRIBUTORS TOTHIS REPORTThe follo
Page 9: INTRODUCTIONConflict Armament Resea
Page 12 and 13: PHYSICAL EVIDENCE OF IRANIAN AMMUNI
Page 14 and 15: PHYSICAL EVIDENCE OF IRANIAN AMMUNI
Page 16: AFRICAN GOVERNMENTSAPPEAR TO BE THE
Page 19 and 20: IRANIAN AMMUNITION DISTRIBUTION IN
Page 21: IRANIAN AMMUNITION DISTRIBUTION IN
Page 25 and 26: CASE STUDIESImage 9Iranian 7.62 x 3
Page 27 and 28: CASE STUDIESIsrael targeted the YIC
Page 29 and 30: CASE STUDIESImage 14Iranian 7.62 x
Page 31 and 32: CASE STUDIESImage 17Iranian 7.62 x
Page 33 and 34: CASE STUDIESSecond, in 2011 and 201
Page 35 and 36: CASE STUDIESADDITIONAl CASESInvesti
Page 37 and 38: CONCLuSIONIran is a recent supplier
Page 39 and 40: ANNExESANNEX 1: TECHNICAL SPECIFICA
Page 41 and 42: ANNEXESANNEX 3: SuSPECTEd IRANIAN 1
Page 43 and 44: ENdNOTES1 The headstamp is applied
Page 45 and 46: ENDNOTES32 See Amnesty Internationa
Page 47 and 48: BIBLIOgRAPHYAmnesty International.
Page 50: Email: admin@conflictarm.comwww.con

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