The report, issued by a United Nations panel of experts, stated that weapons manufactured by Turkish companies are fueling the conflict in Sudan, which has been ongoing since April 2023.

The report, presented to the UN Security Council in July, highlighted several instances where Turkish-made weapons were recovered from armed groups and militias. Among the confiscated weapons were BRG Savunma BRG-55 rifles and HUSAN Arms MKA 556 rifles, both manufactured in Turkey and found in the possession of the Sudanese army and groups affiliated with it. Rifles produced by UTAS Defense, another Turkish brand, were also monitored in the hands of armed entities despite the embargo.

The report implied that the government in Ankara approved the supply of weapons to the army and militias, based on the fact that Turkish law requires pre-approval from the Turkish Armed Forces, the Presidency of Defense Industries, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the sale of defense equipment abroad, whether by private or state-owned companies.

The appearance of Turkish-made rifles in Africa, according to the UN report, also indicates that while export licenses were granted for their sale to third countries, the shipments were later diverted to conflict zones.

The UN report highlighted gaps in Turkey’s export monitoring, emphasizing the risk of their diversion to sanctioned areas. UN investigators confirmed that the presence of newly manufactured Turkish rifles, alongside other foreign weapons, demonstrates the shortcomings in the international enforcement of the embargo on Sudan.

According to the report, one of the companies identified is BRG Savunma, officially registered as Burgu Savunma Teknolojileri ve Havacılık A.Ş. in Istanbul. It is owned by businessman Fatih Doğru and was established in March 2021 under the name Burgu Metal Sanayi ve Ticaret Ltd. Şti. BRG Savunma, which produces the BRG-55 rifles found in Sudan, was previously banned twice from participating in Turkish Armed Forces contract tenders—once for six months in May and again for two years in June—due to contract term violations.

Another company, HUSAN Arms, manufactures the MKA 556 rifles identified by UN investigators. The company, based in the Turkish province of Konya, operates under the name Husan Metal Teknolojileri Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş.

The third Turkish company mentioned in the report is UTAS Defense, officially registered as UTAS Savunma Sanayi ve Ticaret, based in Antalya province and managed by Sezgin Kuysörün and Mehmet Serkan Kuysörün. It produces 5.56×45mm caliber rifles, some of which were found in the hands of army-affiliated militias in Sudan.

The UN committee renewed its warning that the circulation of these weapons is exacerbating the violence in Sudan, now in its third and a half year, where army forces and its affiliated militias have been implicated in serious human rights violations, forced displacement, and systematic attacks on civilians.

Rapid Expansion

The Turkish defense industry has witnessed rapid expansion in its exports across Africa and the Middle East in recent years, bolstering Ankara’s geopolitical influence. However, the discovery of Turkish-made weapons in South Sudan raises urgent questions about oversight, accountability, and compliance with the international arms embargo.

The UN committee urged Turkey, along with other countries whose weapons were traced to Sudan, to enhance end-user certificates and enforce stricter export controls to prevent their diversion.

In a related context, the report warned that South Sudan is also experiencing a growth in the influx of Turkish weapons, stressing that without decisive action, the South risks further destabilization as weapons imported from abroad continue to fuel cycles of violence.

Turkish weapons have been found in the hands of fighters in the ongoing conflict in South Sudan. The committee reported that many of the confiscated weapons are of recent production, ruling out the possibility that they came from old stockpiles. It also suggested they likely entered South Sudan through illicit supply chains, bolstering non-governmental armed groups and undermining fragile peace agreements.