With Emirati Backing, Colombian Mercenaries at the Heart of Sudan’s Conflict

By Dr. Mohamed Hassab Al-Rasoul

In a grave escalation that underscores the growing external dimension of Sudan’s war, the Sudanese army announced last week that it had destroyed an Emirati aircraft after it landed at Nyala Airport, under Rapid Support Forces (RSF) control. The plane was reportedly carrying Colombian mercenaries, killing around 40 Colombian technicians along with several Emirati officials on board.

Regional and media sources revealed that the RSF has increasingly relied on Colombian mercenaries, particularly after losing a significant number of its commanders. These mercenaries have been tasked with operating air-defense systems, drones, and electronic warfare units.

Colombian Mercenaries Join the Fight

Colombian investigative reports confirmed that mercenaries from Colombia have been fighting alongside the RSF since 2024. They have participated in ground operations across Sudan, marking a shift from earlier phases of the war, when the RSF relied on fighters from African states as well as mercenaries from Yemen, Syria, and Libya. The entry of Colombian fighters represented a qualitative turning point, reinforcing the notion that Sudan’s war is not a purely domestic conflict but rather a complex foreign intervention in which the UAE and other international actors are investing varied tools to pursue strategic goals.

In an interview with the Colombian news site Colombia Infos, a Colombian mercenary leader identified as “César” said he had been recruited through private companies specializing in hiring Colombian fighters. Mercenaries, he noted, were paid between $2,000 and $3,000 per month. According to César, their duties included leading combat operations in Darfur and Kordofan, operating drones and air-defense systems, and training local recruits—signaling a marked escalation in the sophistication of RSF military tactics.

César further revealed that the city of Bosaso in Somaliland—home to a strategic Emirati military base—served as a key logistical hub for transferring Colombian fighters, weapons, and supplies to Nyala Airport in South Darfur, from where RSF operations are launched. He emphasized that this base was indispensable to sustaining the war effort, with planes making continuous trips in and out.

The UAE as the Conflict’s Chief Contractor

Multiple reports—including an investigation by The Washington Post, coverage by CNN, and official memoranda submitted by U.S. and British lawmakers—have exposed direct Emirati support for the RSF. This backing includes advanced weaponry such as drones, air-defense equipment, and artillery, as well as financing military operations and recruiting mercenaries.

In testimony before the U.S. Congress, the Secretary of State acknowledged the UAE’s role in supporting the RSF, raising questions about Abu Dhabi’s compliance with international law and UN Security Council arms embargoes on Darfur.

These revelations began surfacing in mid-2024, starting with The Washington Post’s report in July 2024, followed by CNN’s investigation in August, and culminating in October–November 2024 memoranda from U.S. and British legislators, calling for sanctions on the UAE and the establishment of an independent international inquiry.

Sudan’s Government Response

In multiple statements, most recently on August 4, 2025, Sudan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs accused the UAE of sponsoring foreign mercenaries—including Colombians—and providing logistical and military support to the RSF. The ministry described these actions as a blatant violation of Sudan’s sovereignty and international law, and urged the international community to take a clear stance, launching an independent and transparent investigation into the UAE’s role in the conflict.

The ministry stressed that documentation of these violations has already been submitted to the UN Security Council, warning that foreign intervention poses a grave threat to both regional and international stability.

Colombia’s Position on Its Mercenaries

In October 2024, Colombian President Gustavo Petro issued an official apology to Sudan after the Sudanese army exposed the presence of Colombian fighters in the conflict. Petro described the involvement of Colombian mercenaries as deeply troubling and inconsistent with international law, insisting that their participation was not state-sanctioned.

He later called for legislation criminalizing mercenary activity and tasked Colombia’s ambassador in Cairo with verifying casualty figures. Previously, Sudan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed it possessed documents proving Colombian and neighboring-country mercenaries were recruited and funded by Abu Dhabi. These documents have been submitted to the UN Security Council and corroborated by investigative organizations and international reports.

Regional and International Implications

The UAE’s sponsorship of RSF mercenaries, along with the supply of advanced weapons and drones, constitutes a flagrant breach of Sudanese sovereignty and international law, as well as violations of UN Security Council arms embargoes on Darfur. This intervention has further complicated Sudan’s war, deepened the humanitarian crisis, and heightened regional and international concern over growing instability in the Horn of Africa and beyond.

Such developments threaten the security of neighboring states, especially given the influx of advanced weaponry and child recruitment by militias, which further undermines peace and stability in the region. Moreover, the expanded use of mercenaries and modern combat technologies risks intensifying the conflict and prolonging the war.

These dynamics reaffirm that Sudan’s war is not an internal conflict. Rather, it has become a proxy war fueled by foreign intervention, where regional powers employ local political and military tools to advance strategic objectives: dominating Sudan, exploiting its geostrategic position, and leveraging its resources amid intensifying global competition for Africa—of which Sudan is seen as a key gateway.