Sudan and China

China secretly sells Sudan multi launch rocket systems: report
Tuesday 14 July 2009 06:34.
July 13, 2009 (PARIS) — The Sudanese government managed to buy an unknown number of WS-2 multi-launch rocket systems from China, according to Kanwa Defense Review Monthly magazine.
This is the first time this system is exported by China to any country, the Defense magazine reported adding that Sudan now is in possession of the “most powerful long-range attack system” in the African continent.
The multi-launch rocket systems was never shown in any of the country’s military parades.
The report comes as the Sudanese defense minister Abdel-Rahim Mohamed Hussein started today an official visit to China.
“The two countries have witnessed fruitful cooperation in such areas as politics, economy and culture since the establishment of diplomatic ties 50 years ago,” the Chinese Defense Minister Liang Guanglie said after talks with Hussein.
Chinese state media made no mention of any proposed defense contracts between the two countries.
Kanwa Defense Review Monthly could not verify when Sudan received the WS-2 rocket systems but that several African delegates at the Abu-Dhabi International Defense Exhibition and Conference 2009 confirmed the sale.
Furthermore, sources told the magazine that the system’s effective range was upgraded to 200 km with enhanced accuracy and reduced launch time. The system’s warhead weighs 200 kilograms and it uses four types of ammunition.
The UN Security Council (UNSC) imposed an arms embargo that covers Sudan’s Western region of Darfur.
Human rights groups frequently accused China of supplying arms to Sudan for use in Darfur, in breach of a UN arms embargo and produced photographs of Chinese weapons in Darfur.
But Beijing insists that any weapons sales made to Sudan are not in breach of any UNSC resolutions.