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Sudan Research, Analysis, and Advocacy

by Eric Reeves

The infamous Antonov (An-24 and An-26) cargo planes/crude retrofitted bombers

5 February 2015 | Photos and Tweets | Author: ereeves | 248 words

The infamous Antonov (An -26 and An-24) cargo planes/crude retrofitted bombers   

Anton-26 Nyala

The Antonov-26 is the Antonov currently deployed by Khartoum’s SAF (here shown in Nyala, Darfur; photograph Human Rights Watch)

suaf_an_24_coke_001

 The Antonov-24 was its predecessor and used through at least 2007

The Antonov remains by far the most heavily used aircraft in Khartoum’s aerial assaults on civilian and humanitarian targets in Darfur, Blue Nile, and South Kordofan.  It typically flies slowly at approximately 5,000 meters–out of the range of anti-aircraft guns.  At this very considerable height, crude barrel bombs are simply pushed out the cargo bay, without aid of a siting mechanism or other targeting apparatus.  Bombs delivered in such fashion are highly inaccurate, and for true military purposes they are useless.  But as weapons of civilian terror, they are exquisitely suited; even their inaccuracy brings fear.  They have almost completely destroyed the agricultural economies of the Nuba Mountains and Blue Nile, creating terrible living conditions for some 1.5 million people.

A detailed account of the aircraft and ordnance used by Khartoum’s air force in its campaigns in Darfur, South Kordofan (Nuba Mountains), and Blue Nile State—and not infrequently South Sudan—is provided in the 7 February 2014 report by the UN Panel of Experts:  http://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=S/2014/87 (pages 31 – 45).  Among other things, we learn how much high explosive ordnance has been dropped by the SAF, in addition to the traditionally crude shrapnel-loaded barrel bombs.  Photographs and graphic design depictions are included.

 

 

 

About the Author

cer1 Eric Reeves has been writing about greater Sudan for the past twenty-three years. His work is here organized chronologically, and includes all electronic and other publications since the signing of the historic Machakos Protocol (July 2002), which guaranteed South Sudan the right to a self- determination referendum. There are links to a number of Reeves’ formal publications in newspapers, news magazines, academic journals, and human rights publications, as well as to the texts of his Congressional testimony and a complete list of publications, testimony, and academic presentations.
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