Sudanese authorities seize smuggled Turkish weapons heading to Ethiopia

CAIRO – 24 June 2020: The Sudanese authorities announced on Tuesday that the Military Intelligence Division in the eastern city of El-Gadarif managed to seize smuggled Turkish arms and ammunition on its way to Ethiopia, and arrested six suspects.

Commander of Gadarif city Nasruddin Abdul Qayyum said the Sudanese Intelligence Division forces seized 25 Turkish-made Kalashnikov rifles, 80 pistols, and big quantities of DShK and Kalashnikov ammunition.

The Sudanese official confirmed that the seized weapons indicated that there is cooperation between smugglers and enemy forces who are working to cause problems along the borderline between Sudan and Ethiopia.

Abdul Qayyum called for converting efforts and enhancing coordination and information exchange between the forces in charge of controlling and combating arms smuggling.

Reports by several foreign newspapers pointed out that while the world is trying to recover from the damage caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan continue to interfere in the affairs of the eastern Mediterranean and Arab countries such as Syria, Libya, and Iraq.

Turkey’s recent ambitions in the region have also raised concern in Greece, Cyprus, and Israel. Reports said that Turkey has unilaterally decided to extend its maritime borders and gain access to a much larger exclusive economic zone in the region.