Gen. Kabroun tells Arab News claims that army concealed weapons in humanitarian shipment are ‘completely false’ and a bid to deflect from RSF ‘atrocities’
RIYADH – Sudan’s defense minister has vehemently rejected as “completely false” reports attributed to the country’s intelligence service alleging that a convoy struck in North Kordofan was covertly transporting weapons under the guise of humanitarian aid.
Gen. Hassan Kabroun told Arab News that the purported intelligence document is a fabrication, politically motivated, and designed to distract from what he termed a “heinous crime” committed by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
The controversy erupted following news reports citing a document allegedly from Sudan’s General Intelligence Service. It claimed the convoy targeted in Al-Rahad on Friday was carrying “high-quality weapons and ammunition” for Sudanese Armed Forces units and had been classified as humanitarian to secure safe passage through conflict zones. The RSF, according to the document, destroyed the convoy after tracking its route and cargo.
Kabroun dismissed the narrative in its entirety.
“First of all, we would like to stress the fact that this news is false,” he said. “Even the headline that talks about the security of the regions, such as Al-Dabbah, is not a headline the army would use.”
He described the document as an orchestrated attempt to “cover up the heinous crime they committed.”
‘Army Does Not Need Camouflage’
The minister underscored that the area targeted by drones remains under full SAF control and requires no covert logistics.
“The region that was targeted by drones is controlled by the army and very safe,” Kabroun said. “It does not require transporting any military equipment using aid convoys as decoys. It is a safe area controlled by the army, which has significant capabilities to transport humanitarian aid.”
He stressed a strict institutional separation between combat operations and relief efforts.
“Aid is transported by dedicated relief vehicles to the areas in need,” he said. “Aid is not transported by the army. The army and security apparatus do not interfere with relief efforts at all, and do not even accompany the convoys.”
Kabroun pointed to open and operational supply routes as further evidence.
“The road between Dalang and Kadugli is open. The Sudanese forces used that road to enter and take control of the region. Whenever military trucks need to deliver anything, they can do so without resorting to any form of camouflage.”
Intelligence Document Dismissed as Smokescreen
The alleged intelligence report suggested that RSF monitoring enabled a precision strike on what it described as a military convoy disguised as humanitarian aid. Kabroun rejected this as a bid to shift blame.
“The intelligence agency is well aware of its duties,” he said. “The Sudanese Army has enough weapons and equipment to use in the areas of operations. These claims are completely false.”
He argued the narrative is a deliberate effort to obscure RSF attacks on civilian infrastructure and humanitarian movements.
“This shows that they are trying to cover up the atrocities,” he added, referring to the paramilitary force.
Kabroun maintained that the army is regaining momentum on multiple fronts and operates transparently.
“The region is secure, the roads are open, and the army does not need camouflage,” he said. “We are operating professionally and transparently.”
Context
Sudan has been engulfed in conflict since April 2023, when fighting erupted between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces. The United Nations has described the crisis as one of the world’s worst humanitarian disasters.
The convoy dispute comes amid intensified fighting in South Kordofan, a strategically sensitive region linking central Sudan with the contested areas of Darfur and Blue Nile.
