UAE Accused of Training Colombian Fighters in Sudan's Civil War

According to a report by Human Rights Watch (HRW), the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is alleged to have provided training for Colombian mercenaries, deploying them to support the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan, a group implicated in significant war crimes during the ongoing civil war.

The fresh report released on Tuesday details that these Colombian combatants received military training in UAE facilities before being sent to fight in Sudan. HRW describes this as part of escalating evidence about the UAE's military backing for the RSF.

The UAE government has categorically denied these claims. In a statement to the Associated Press, the UAE Foreign Ministry asserted that the nation does not permit its territory for the recruitment or training of foreign fighters in conflict regions, including Sudan.

The violent clashes that ignited Sudan’s civil war on April 15, 2023, arose from rising tensions between the Sudanese military and the RSF, leading to catastrophic humanitarian fallout.

The RSF was formed from the Janjaweed militias, notorious for their involvement in atrocities during Darfur in the early 2000s.

Reportedly, hundreds of Colombian mercenaries were prepared by Emirati trainers at military facilities in Al Dhafra and Abu Dhabi, according to HRW. The investigation included testimonies from Colombian fighters and former military officials.

One unnamed Colombian fighter recounted to HRW that he instructed RSF trainees in camps around Nyala, South Darfur, in April of last year, alleging that many recruits were underage.

A United Nations expert panel earlier highlighted that Colombian mercenaries participated in various conflict zones in Sudan, including Khartoum and Darfur, utilizing drones, artillery, and armored vehicles.

General Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, the RSF commander, has acknowledged the involvement of Colombian mercenaries in drone operations as of February.

HRW also claims that these fighters were recruited through the Abu Dhabi-based Global Security Services Group, linked to Emirati businessman Mohammed Hamdan Al-Zaabi.

The UAE government insists that any actions taken by private entities against armed groups occur without state endorsement and could lead to criminal prosecution.

HRW verified footage showing Colombian fighters alongside the RSF during attacks in El-Fasher, Darfur, where the UN indicated at least 6,000 casualties occurred within three days.

The organization urges international entities, including the EU, to pressure the UAE to halt any purported support for the RSF through military cooperation and arms sales.

While the United States has enacted sanctions on individuals reported to have recruited Colombian fighters for the Sudan conflict, it has not imposed direct measures on the UAE regarding these allegations.

The Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED) reports at least 59,000 fatalities in Sudan’s war thus far, with a belief that the actual number is significantly higher due to reporting constraints in active conflict areas.