Sudan has once again chosen the path of militarization over dialogue. During a recent high-level visit to Pakistan, Sudan’s Air Force Commander Lt. Gen. Al-Tahir Mohamed Al-Awad Al-Amin, along with officials from its Military Industry Corporation, signed a massive $1.5 billion defense contract.
The deal includes 10 K-8 Karakorum aircraft, over 250 UAVs of various models, MiG-21 fighter jet engines, 150 armored vehicles, and advanced air defense systems. These are not defensive purchases meant to safeguard borders—they are tools designed to sustain and escalate a brutal conflict.
At a time when millions of Sudanese face famine, mass displacement, and collapsed healthcare systems, is it justifiable to spend billions on weapons? Shouldn’t these resources be directed towards saving lives instead of fueling more bloodshed?
Pakistan, too, finds itself at the center of uncomfortable questions. By supplying such a large volume of advanced weaponry to a regime already accused of human rights abuses, Islamabad risks being seen as enabling a war machine rather than contributing to regional peace.
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Reports suggest the deal may even be financed by a third-party backer, raising further suspicions about foreign interference in Sudan’s internal conflict.
With Sudan refusing peace talks and strengthening its arsenal instead, and Pakistan expanding its footprint in fragile regions, one must ask: Is this partnership creating stability—or deepening chaos across Africa and beyond? In the end, the $1.5 billion question remains: Who truly benefits from this deal—the people of Sudan, or those profiting from endless war?
