Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have intensified their air and ground offensives using Chinese-manufactured weapons, especially FH-95 drones and Norinco-guided bombs, deepening concerns that Beijing’s arms trade is sustaining both sides of Sudan’s devastating civil war.

On April 28, Sudan’s interim foreign ministry summoned China’s chargé d’affaires in Port Sudan, demanding clarification over RSF’s deployment of Chinese FH-95 drones in operations over El Fasher. The RSF has reportedly used these drones for reconnaissance and lethal strikes against military and civilian targets.

Despite official denials, RSF attacks have left unmistakable signatures: Ayin Network investigators found debris from Norinco’s GB-25A precision-guided munitions at RSF-claimed sites, including the Coral Marina Hotel—headquarters of a military logistics hub.

Norinco Weaponry: RSF’s Expanding Arsenal

Field reports and visual confirmations suggest RSF fighters are routinely equipped with Chinese rifles, drones, and guided bombs, mostly sourced from Norinco—China’s largest state-owned arms manufacturer. These weapons now underpin RSF’s capacity to wage war across multiple fronts, including urban drone strikes and cross-desert mobilization.

While Beijing publicly backs the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), it has neither condemned RSF usage of Chinese arms nor regulated Norinco’s commercial ties in the country.

Experts: “China Knows—And Sells Anyway”

“Both sides are paying, and that’s all that matters,” said Kholood Khair of Confluence Advisory, adding that China’s support for SAF’s February 2024 campaign was mere diplomatic theater. Former U.S. diplomat Alberto Fernandez echoed this, calling China’s posture “cynically commercial.” He added, “I don’t think they care who’s killing who—as long as the shipments are paid for.”

This arms-for-profit policy has sparked growing outrage as RSF drone strikes continue to kill civilians in Darfur and Red Sea states.

RSF’s Strength Grows Amid China's Strategic Silence

The RSF’s weaponization mirrors China’s historical engagement with Sudan—rooted in oil, infrastructure, and now, war commerce. Chinese companies, especially Norinco, have long-standing economic stakes in the country’s mining and agricultural sectors. Analysts argue these ties give Beijing little incentive to halt arms flows, even as RSF gains strength using Chinese-made firepower.

China’s refusal to rein in Norinco underscores its quiet complicity in RSF atrocities—despite professing support for peace and stability.