Bulgaria, however, also sells directly to countries fighting wars. In late 1998, Uganda received Bulgarian tanks, which Uganda could use against rebels in its own civil war, send to support the fighting in the Democratic Republic of Congo, or divert to Uganda-supported rebels in Sudan and Angola. The tank sales are legal, but contradict Bulgaria's pledges to exercise restraint in its arms exports. The serious economic crisis that hit Bulgaria in 1996-1997 has added to the pressure for increased arms sales. The privatization is expected to be finished by mid 2000.
Bulgarian authorities are in the process of drafting new arms trade legislation.
But whether the government will be able to control private weapons exporters any better than it controlled the state-owned defense firms is highly questionable. International Action Network on Small Arms. All Rights Reserved.