UN investigation: Sudanese rebels were supplied with weapons by US military contractor's planes
A United Nations investigation has revealed that three Boeing 727 aircraft transported weapons, drones, and mercenaries for the Sudanese Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which the UN accuses of genocide in Darfur. According to a Reuters investigation, these planes were linked to a network connected to Steven Shaulis, a former U.S. military contractor and long-time defense contractor. The report indicates that the planes operated from Chad’s military airport in N’Djamena, moving supplies to RSF logistics hubs in Sudan, Libya, and Somalia. The UN report, set to be published in September, cites two witnesses from Njale, the main military and logistical hub of the RSF in Darfur, and communications from two UN member states. However, additional details remain undisclosed. Meanwhile, the Chadian Civil Aviation Authority stated none of the mentioned planes had authorization to operate from Chad, emphasizing it does not oversee military aviation or track plane movements. The Chadian foreign minister noted questions about the planes fall under national security and described Chad’s role in the Sudan conflict as a diplomatic effort.
The United Nations has uncovered secret flights involving Boeing aircraft used to supply weapons, mercenaries, and drones to Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF), according to a draft report set to be released in September. The findings, based on satellite imagery, mobile data, and open-source videos, reveal that three Boeing 727 planes, operated by companies linked to former U.S. military contractor Steven Shaulis, were flying from Chad to logistics hubs controlled by the RSF in Sudan, Libya, and Somalia. These flights, which were allegedly intended to evade detection, carried fighters, foreign mercenaries, and military equipment, including drones and firearms. The report, compiled by the UN’s Sudan Panel, highlights how these planes facilitated the movement of arms and personnel during the ongoing conflict in Sudan. The panel, authorized by the UN Security Council to monitor the arms embargo imposed on Darfur in 2004, found that the Boeing 727s operated under the radar, with their movements unrecorded after they arrived in N’djamena, Chad’s capital. Analysts suspect the crews intentionally took steps to avoid discovery, though no further details have been disclosed. One of the planes was sold to a Brazilian company tied to Shaulis, while two others were purchased from Kalitta Charters II, a Michigan-based firm. A lawyer for Kalitta Charters told Reuters that the company had conducted a thorough inspection before selling the aircraft and found no violations of sanctions. However, the UN panel noted that none of the planes’ movements were recorded after they entered N’djamena. This suggests a deliberate effort to conceal their activities, raising questions about the extent of logistical support being funneled to the RSF. Reuters, which tracked the movements of the Boeing 727s using satellite images, mobile phone data, and open-source videos, found that the planes landed in Nyala, a key RSF stronghold in Darfur, and in Kufra, Libya. Despite this, independent flight tracking services failed to record the flights, indicating possible efforts to obscure their routes. According to the UN report, the RSF used the N’djamena, Nyala air corridor to transport fighters, foreign mercenaries, and military supplies, including drones and weapons, to Darfur. Shaulis, a former U.S. special operations soldier and long-time defense contractor, is linked to the South African airline Contractor Airways, which owns the Boeing 727s. His business partner, Craig Munro, previously denied any connection between Contractor Airways and the RSF. However, Reuters’ findings suggest that the planes did land in Sudan and Libya, contradicting Munro’s claims. Meanwhile, the Chad Civil Aviation Authority stated that none of the planes had valid operating licenses from Chad and emphasized that it does not manage military aviation or track civilian flights. In addition to the Boeing 727s, the UN investigation detailed the involvement of Colombian mercenaries in supporting the RSF. These mercenaries, hired by a UAE-based security firm, reportedly participated in planning the siege and subsequent encirclement of the city of Al-Fashir. While the UAE authorities investigated the firm, they found no evidence of complicity. The firm claimed to operate in compliance with national and international laws. The conflict in Sudan, which erupted in 2023, stems from clashes between the military leadership and the RSF over plans to integrate forces during an unsuccessful transition to civilian rule. Hundreds of thousands have died since then, with fighting deepening famine and disease outbreaks, creating one of the worst humanitarian crises globally. The UN has described the situation as the most severe in recent history, underscoring the urgency of addressing the flow of arms and mercenaries into the region.
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