Faith Nyasuguta
Sudan has openly accused the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of dispatching hundreds of Colombian and African mercenaries to support the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in its ongoing civil war. In a strongly-worded statement issued by Sudan’s Foreign Ministry, the government claimed to have “irrefutable evidence” that mercenaries from Colombia and various neighboring African countries were recruited, funded, and deployed by the UAE to fight against Sudan’s national army.
Although the Sudanese government didn’t provide specific proof or name the African nations allegedly involved, it warned that the “unprecedented phenomenon” of such foreign intervention poses a major threat to peace and security both regionally and across the African continent. Sudan estimates that hundreds of thousands of foreign fighters have been hired and funneled into the conflict zones.
The United Arab Emirates swiftly denied the accusations. In a statement emailed to The Associated Press, the UAE’s Foreign Ministry “categorically rejected” Sudan’s claims and labeled them as unfounded. “These allegations are merely attempts to derail the peace process and evade the moral, legal, and humanitarian obligations needed to end the conflict,” the statement said. The UAE reiterated its commitment to helping Sudan transition toward stability, emphasizing that it supports peace, not war.
There was no immediate response from the Colombian government regarding the claims of their nationals being involved in Sudan’s conflict. However, reports in past months have highlighted the increasing use of foreign mercenaries in civil conflicts across Africa and the Middle East. Colombia, with thousands of trained ex-soldiers, has been a known recruitment ground for private military contractors.
The war in Sudan erupted in April 2023 after rising tensions between the RSF, a powerful paramilitary group, and the regular army exploded into open conflict in the capital Khartoum. Since then, the fighting has spread nationwide, leaving a devastating toll: more than 40,000 people killed, up to 12 million displaced, and millions more on the verge of starvation.
Sudan has previously accused the UAE of arming the RSF with weapons and logistics support – claims that the Gulf state has continuously denied. Notably, a November 2023 Amnesty International report revealed that Sudanese forces had seized armored vehicles allegedly manufactured in the UAE and fitted with French defense systems. The UAE at the time dismissed the report as part of a “coordinated disinformation campaign” targeting its foreign policy and humanitarian image.
Meanwhile, both sides of the Sudanese conflict – RSF and the military – have faced grave allegations of war crimes. International watchdogs and humanitarian groups have documented widespread atrocities including ethnic cleansing, sexual violence, and extrajudicial killings, many of which have been committed against children and women.
As international mediation stalls and humanitarian needs skyrocket, Sudan’s accusations against the UAE further complicate the regional dynamics. Observers worry that more foreign interference could prolong the bloodshed and make prospects for peace even dimmer.
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