A United Nations panel of experts has accused Ukraine of defying an international embargo on South Sudan and supplying the young nation with weapons.
A report by the experts suggested that Ukraine was supplying weapons blamed for perpetuating conflict in the country.
The report mentioned the case of an Ilyunshinil-76 aircraft that was transported from Ukraine to Uganda on January 27, 2017.
It said the plane’s manifest indicated that it contained two L-39 jets and engines provided by Musket OU, a company based in Tallinn, and that the flight was operated by the Ukranian Defence ministry.
Investigations are ongoing to find out if the planes were taken to South Sudan following reports that an aircraft with obscure markings was parked at Juba airport.
The panel said it was also investigating Hungarian fighter jet pilot — Tibor Czingali — contracted by the Ugandan Air Force, but believed to be flying South Sudanese aircraft, local media, Sudan Tribune reports
The experts said they recently received documents from a confidential source that detailed a contract, signed in June 2014 by two National Security Service officers for a company based in the Seychelles to provide weapons to the South Sudanese Internal Security Bureau, headed by Akol Koor, the Daily Nation reports.
The experts said they interviewed one Pierre Dadak, a jailed polish arms dealer who said between January and June 2014, the Sudan Peoples’ Liberation Army-In Opposition, under Riek Machar approached him seeking 40,000 AK-47 rifles, 200,000 boxes of ammunition, 30,000 PKM machine guns, 3,000 anti-tank rounds, 300 anti-tank guns and 300 anti-aircraft guns.
Border areas between South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda were key entry points for arms to Juba, this according to the report.
