A Reuters investigation has found that companies controlled by a former U.S. Army Special Forces veteran operated a fleet of aging Boeing cargo aircraft that repeatedly flew to logistics hubs linked to Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) during the country’s ongoing civil war, raising fresh questions about the movement of military related supplies into the conflict zone.
According to the Reuters investigation, the aircraft were operated by companies connected to Philip Martin Furlong, an American military veteran whose aviation businesses managed several Boeing cargo planes that regularly flew between the United Arab Emirates, Chad, Uganda, and other regional airports that have become important transit points during the Sudan conflict. Flight tracking records reviewed by Reuters showed the aircraft frequently landed at locations widely regarded by military analysts and United Nations investigators as key logistical hubs used to support the RSF.
Reuters reported that there is no publicly available evidence showing the aircraft themselves transported weapons or other military equipment directly into Sudan. However, aviation experts and investigators said the repeated flights to strategic logistics centres highlight how commercial aviation networks can be used to sustain supply chains during armed conflicts.
The conflict between Sudan’s military, led by General Abdel Fattah al Burhan, and the RSF, commanded by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, widely known as Hemedti, has continued since April 2023. The war has displaced millions of people, devastated critical infrastructure and created one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises. Both sides have repeatedly faced allegations of violating international humanitarian law, accusations they have denied.
The Reuters investigation found that several of the Boeing aircraft changed ownership or registration over time through companies operating in multiple jurisdictions, making it difficult to establish the full commercial network behind the flights. Aviation records show the aircraft were decades old and had previously operated under different cargo carriers before joining the companies linked to the former U.S. serviceman.
Furlong told Reuters that his companies operated legitimate commercial cargo services and denied knowingly participating in any effort to support armed groups in Sudan. He said the aircraft transported lawful commercial freight and humanitarian cargo under contracts with clients operating across Africa and the Middle East. Reuters reported that it found no evidence that Furlong personally violated U.S. sanctions or international law.
The investigation also examined the role of regional logistics hubs, particularly airports in Chad and the United Arab Emirates, which have repeatedly appeared in United Nations reports examining alleged arms flows into Sudan. International investigators have previously expressed concern that military equipment destined for armed groups could pass through neighbouring countries before entering Sudan, although the governments involved have denied facilitating such transfers.
The United Nations has documented continued allegations that foreign actors are supplying weapons and logistical support to both sides in Sudan’s conflict despite international efforts to limit the flow of arms. The war has killed tens of thousands of people and forced more than 14 million people from their homes, while humanitarian agencies warn that famine and disease continue to spread across several regions of the country.
The Reuters investigation underscores the growing importance of private aviation networks in conflict zones, where commercial cargo operators often fly routes that overlap with military logistics corridors. Analysts say greater transparency in aircraft ownership, cargo documentation and international oversight will be essential to preventing commercial transport networks from being exploited during armed conflicts.
Leave a comment