Tractors or tanks: what has Belarus sold to Sudan more?
On January 17, Aliaksandr Lukashenka is paying an official visit to Sudan. During the talks with the leadership of the country, he negotiates the supplies of medicines, fertilizers and cooperation in the field of IT. But there is yet another side of economic cooperation between Belarus and Sudan that will get no mention in the media - arms trade between our countries.
According to UN reports, Belarus began selling arms to Sudan in 1996. The first deliveries included 9 T-55 main battle tanks and Mi24 helicopters. Russia was mentioned as the source of these and other deliveries bound for Sudan via Belarus.
What and how many has Belarus sold to Sudan since 1996? (Source: UN)
1996: 9 Т-55 tanks and 6 Мі-24В helicopters;
1999: 40 Т-55М tanks;
2001: 20 Т-55М tanks;
2002: 8 D-30 howitsers and 6 GRAD multiple rocket launchers;
2003: 9 BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicles, 39 BRDM-2, 16 Д-30 howitzers, 9 2С1 Gvozdika howitzers, 12 MLRS, 10 mortars.
On July 30, 2004 the UN introduced arms supplies embargo to Sudan after civil war broke out in that country. Embargo has been in force up to now and is mostly mentioned in the reports by human rights organizations. For example, human rights first reports that in 2004-2006 Belarus sold Sudan 41 infantry fighting vehicles and 12 military planes in violation of the embargo.
UN report for 2004: 21 BRDM-2, 7 BTR-80, 10 BTR-70, 1 BMP-1. In 2005 and in 2006, no information. But trade resumed in 2007 when UN spotted that Belarus sold two BTR-70 to Sudan. A report on Wikileaks suggests in June 2006 Belarus and Sudan signed a protocol on military cooperation.
What else:
2008: 11 Su-25 air support jets;
2009: 3 Su-25s;
2010: 1 Su-25.
In 2011 and 2012, Belarus did not sell arms to Sudan, according to UN.
In 2012, Belarus began to sell tractors to Sudan:
2012 - 258 tractors;
2013 - 255 tractors;
2014 - 153 tractors;
2015 - 57 tractors;
2016 - 123 tractors.
Total: 846 tractors or 3.5 times more than arms.