Armed and insecure

implement” the remainder of the contract, which was struck before the war broke out. 177
Officials from South Sudan have acknowledged that the government had mortgaged crude oil
to Chinese companies to acquire weapons in 2014. 178 Again in early 2016, reports emerged that
South Sudan had “recently” received “dozens” of Chinese shoulder-launched rocket systems,
delivered via Mombasa (Kenya) and Uganda. 179 The UN Panel of Experts on South Sudan
noted that supply of weapons to the warring parties “has been instrumental in the continuation
and escalation of the war to its current scale, leading to large-scale violations of international
humanitarian law”. 180
Another such example is the supply of Mi-24 attack helicopters. In late 2015, South Sudan’s
government had at least three such helicopters, and was awaiting the delivery of a fourth,
procured from Motor Sich, a private Ukrainian company, for USD 42.8 million. These helicopters
“have been vital in providing an important advantage in military operations, have facilitated the
expansion of the war and have emboldened those in government who are seeking a military
solution to the conflict at the expense of the peace process”, according to the UN Panel of
Experts on South Sudan, which had earlier noted that the arrival of the helicopters provided a
capability not available prior to the outbreak of war. 181 According to experts consulted by the
UN Panel, even if the contract included fees for maintenance and operations, the unit price for
that type of aircraft was inflated. Ukrainian authorities have confirmed that they had granted a
licence for the export of Mi-24 helicopters to South Sudan.
A second order for another four Mi-24s, probably also coming from Motor Sich, is valued at
USD 35.7 million, but was bought this time by Bosasy Logistics, registered in Uganda. Its
directors are closely connected to the Ugandan security establishment, according to the UN
report. “Several independent sources in Kampala and Juba have told the Panel that there
is a standing unwritten agreement to supply the government of South Sudan with arms and
ammunition through Uganda. According to that information, Uganda either supplies South
Sudan with its own stock or acquires the weapons and then transfers them to South Sudan,
without necessarily involving or obtaining the consent of the primary seller. The attack
helicopters from Bosasy Logistics were acquired under such an agreement.” 182
In late 2015, two helicopter hangars were being constructed by Norwegian Development
General Trading, based in Dubai, for USD 16.4 million. An Austrian-made Diamond DA42
surveillance aircraft based at the military airport in Juba has provided target acquisition support
for the Mi-24s since mid-2015, according to the Panel of Experts (PoE). 183
177 Bloomberg, ‘China Halts Arms Sales to South Sudan After Norinco Shipment’, September 2014, http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-09-29/china-haltsweapons-sales-to-south-sudan-after-norinco-shipment.html.
178 Sudan Tribune, ‘South Sudan army admits acquisition of surface-to-air missiles’, January 2016, http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article57564.
179 Ibid.
180 UNSC, ‘Interim report of the Panel of Experts on South Sudan’, August 2015, p. 23.
181 UNSC, ‘Final report of the Panel of Experts on South Sudan’, January 2016, pp. 3, 27-28 and UNSC, ‘Interim report of the Panel of Experts on South
Sudan’, August 2015, p. 19.
182 UNSC, ‘Final report of the Panel of Experts on South Sudan’, January 2016, pp. 27-29.
183 UNSC, ‘Final report of the Panel of Experts on South Sudan’, January 2016, p. 28.
PAX ! Armed and insecure
51