UAE Under Fire for Allegedly Training Colombian Fighters for Sudanese Conflict

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has leveled serious accusations against the United Arab Emirates (UAE), alleging that the nation trained Colombian mercenaries and dispatched them to join forces with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary organization embroiled in accusations of severe war crimes during Sudan’s ongoing turmoil.

In a report released on Tuesday, HRW stated that these Colombian fighters received training at military installations in the UAE before their deployment to Sudan. The organization characterized this as part of a troubling pattern of military assistance being funneled to the RSF.

The UAE has vehemently denied these accusations. In a statement to the Associated Press, the UAE Foreign Ministry asserted that the nation prohibits any use of its territory for recruiting, training, financing, or transporting foreign fighters to conflict zones, including Sudan.

Sudan’s civil strife erupted on April 15, 2023, following escalating tensions between the Sudanese military and the RSF, leading to violent confrontations in Khartoum and beyond. The nation has since plunged into one of the most severe humanitarian crises worldwide.

The RSF traces its roots back to the Janjaweed militias, infamous for committing atrocities in Sudan’s Darfur during the early 2000s.

According to HRW, dozens of Colombian mercenaries underwent training by Emirati personnel at a military base located in the Al Dhafra region and additional training facilities in Abu Dhabi. The report includes testimonies from Colombian fighters and former military officials.

An unidentified Colombian mercenary divulged to HRW that he instructed RSF recruits at camps near Nyala, the capital of South Darfur, in April of the previous year. He expressed concern that many of these recruits were young minors.

Earlier, a United Nations panel of experts had reported the presence of Colombian fighters in various combat zones across Sudan, including Khartoum, Omdurman, Darfur, and Kordofan. The report indicated that these combatants operated drones and artillery systems, deployed armored vehicles, and engaged in direct confrontations.

RSF leader General Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo acknowledged in February that Colombian mercenaries were instrumental in helping his forces manage drone operations.

Furthermore, HRW alleged that recruitment efforts were conducted through Global Security Services Group, a private security firm based in Abu Dhabi and reportedly associated with Emirati businessman Mohammed Hamdan Al-Zaabi.

In response, the UAE government reiterated its lack of involvement, asserting that any individuals or firms aiding armed factions would be acting without state consent and could be subject to legal repercussions under UAE law.

Human Rights Watch also claimed to have verified videos showing individuals believed to be Colombian fighters engaged alongside the RSF during assaults on the city of El-Fasher in Darfur in October. The United Nations reports that over 6,000 lives were lost within a mere three days during this episode of violence.

In light of these accusations, HRW has urged the global community, including the European Union, to exert pressure on the UAE to cease any purported support for the RSF by halting military collaborations and arms transactions.

In parallel, the United States has imposed sanctions on various individuals and entities implicated in recruiting Colombian personnel for the ongoing conflict in Sudan, although Washington has not yet taken direct action against the UAE regarding these allegations.

Based on data from the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED), it is estimated that at least 59,000 individuals have died as a result of the war in Sudan to date, though estimates suggest the true death toll may be significantly higher due to complications in reporting from conflict-stricken areas.