INTELLIGENCE FILES ALLEGE SUDAN ARMY USED ‘HUMANITARIAN ’ CONVOY TO TRANSPORT WEAPONS.
BY NJOKI KARANJA
South Kordofan, Sudan.
Newly leaked security documents have cast doubt on claims by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) that a convoy struck in South Kordofan was carrying humanitarian aid, instead alleging it was transporting weapons and advanced ammunition to frontline troops.
An official intelligence document attributed to Sudan’s General Intelligence Service indicates that the convoy targeted in the Al-Rahad area was a covert military shipment disguised as humanitarian relief. The document, published by the British website UKNIP, states that while the convoy was publicly presented as delivering aid supplies, its cargo consisted entirely of weapons, ammunition and field equipment intended for SAF units operating across South Kordofan.
According to the intelligence report, the humanitarian classification was used to facilitate safe passage through conflict zones experiencing intense military activity. The document further claims that the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) carried out the strike after tracking the convoy’s movements and verifying the nature of its cargo through what it describes as precise intelligence gathering. The attack reportedly destroyed the convoy in full.
These findings directly contradict earlier statements that accused the RSF of targeting a humanitarian aid convoy, a claim that drew concern from observers at the time. Instead, the leaked document internally classifies the shipment as a military consignment carrying “advanced weapons and ammunition,” suggesting a deliberate effort to use humanitarian cover for military logistics.
Analysts and observers say the revelations, if verified, point to a highly dangerous practice that could have far-reaching consequences. The alleged exploitation of humanitarian operations for military purposes risks eroding trust in genuine relief efforts, exposing aid workers and civilians to greater danger, and undermining the neutrality that humanitarian convoys rely on to operate in conflict areas.
The disclosure also raises serious legal and ethical concerns, particularly regarding compliance with international humanitarian law. The use of humanitarian symbols or convoys as cover for military operations is strictly prohibited, given the grave risks it poses to civilians and the long-term viability of humanitarian work.
So far, no detailed official response has been issued to reconcile the apparent contradiction between the public narrative and the contents of the leaked document. However, the incident underscores the complexity of the conflict and information war in South Kordofan, and is likely to intensify calls for an independent investigation into allegations that humanitarian aid has been used as a military cover in Sudan’s ongoing war.
