Name: Tracking Canadian-made rifles in Sudans bloody civil war
Uploaded: 2025-11-18T18:57:50.907Z
Duration: 3 min 19 s
Description: CBC’s visual investigations team analyzes photos and videos posted to social media to uncover how rifles from a small, B.C.-based company are being used by a Sudanese paramilitary group accused of civilian massacres. Experts tell us how Canadian arms fuel Sudan’s conflict, with help from international brokers.

CBC’s visual investigations team analyzes photos and videos posted to social media to uncover how rifles from a small, B.C.-based company are being used by a Sudanese paramilitary group accused of civilian massacres. Experts tell us how Canadian arms fuel Sudan’s conflict, with help from international brokers.

Ottawa

An investigation by CBC News has found that rifles manufactured by Sterling Cross Defense Systems, a Canadian company based in British Columbia, are being used by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan. The RSF, a paramilitary group accused of civilian massacres, has been engaged in Sudan's ongoing civil war against the Sudanese Armed Forces.

CBC's Visual Investigations Unit verified at least nine instances of RSF fighters carrying Sterling Cross rifles through analysis of social media images and videos. The path by which these weapons reached Sudan remains unclear, especially given Canada's arms embargo on Sudan since 2004. Canadian authorities have stated they review export permits on a case-by-case basis and will pursue legal action if violations are found. Experts have called for further investigation and greater transparency regarding Canadian arms exports.

Tracking Canadian-made rifles in Sudan's bloody civil war

Rifles from a Canadian company are being used in Sudan by a paramilitary group accused of civilian massacres. CBC's Visual Investigations Unit analyzed these photos of fighters posted to social media to uncover how weapons made by a small company in British Columbia are being used in a war zone more than 12,000 kilometers away. This is a very egregious violation. Sudan's civil war is being fought between two rival factions, the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, or RSF. So the Rapid Support Forces actually began as what many people know them as the Janjaweed. They have been unleashing wide scales of violence throughout the country. By geolocating images and identifying insignia and camouflage, we verified at least nine photos showing RSF fighters using rifles with the logo of Sterling Cross Defense Systems, a BC company that you've probably never heard of. It only has a bare bones website, but it's won contracts with the RCMP and the Department of National Defense. In this October 2024 video released by the RSF, taken just south of Khartoum, which we know based on this bridge and these hydro towers in the background, this fighter turns around and just for a few frames, you can see this logo, which matches Sterling Cross. In another photo, we see a fighter with RSF camouflage and insignia holding a Sterling Cross rifle over his shoulder. The company has produced this rifle since at least 2019. In this image from Instagram, you can see dozens of them with the caption, final inspection before delivery. Now it's not clear how the weapons got into Sudan and that's a problem because Canada has had an arms embargo against Sudan since 2004. We export multi-million dollars worth of equipment to the UAE and the UAE has been facing allegations of supplying the RSF. For example, armored vehicles from the Canadian company Strait, which has a factory in the United Arab Emirates, have been spotted in Sudan for years, although the UAE denies sending equipment to the RSF. We shared our findings with Sterling Cross. In a statement, they said, I can assure you that Sterling Cross' policies align with that of Global Affairs Canada. The first thing that they should do, Global Affairs and the Canadian government in general, should investigate these arms to verify if indeed they did come from this Canadian company. After contacting Global Affairs Canada, it said it has a legal requirement to review all permits on a case-by-case basis. And if these laws are violated, we will ensure those responsible face legal consequences that could include fines, seizure of goods and criminal prosecution. Canada should be doing better. Canada is one of the least transparent countries on where the weapons eventually end up. If you've got a tip you'd like us to investigate, email vi at cbc.ca.

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