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Sudan conflict: Black market AK-47s flood Sudan's capital

Sudan conflict: Black market AK-47s flood Sudan's capital

Popular News

The price of an AK-47 assault rifle, one of the most-recognisable weapons of war, has fallen over the last few months by 50% on the black market in Sudan's capital, Khartoum - now costing only around $830 (£650).

A long-time arms dealer attributed the sharp drop in price to the fact that the black market has become saturated with the Russian-invented Kalashnikov - colloquially known as "the Clash" - after Sudan plunged into a civil war in April.

Battles between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) rage daily on the streets of Khartoum and the two other cities - Bahri and Omdurman - that make up the greater capital.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, the man - who buys and sells weapons as a full-time business of sorts - said that although some of his suppliers are retired army officers, most are from the ranks of the RSF.