Human Rights Watch (HRW) has accused the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of recruiting and training Colombian mercenaries to support the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan's civil war. According to HRW, these mercenaries transited through Emirati military bases before being deployed to Sudan.
Key Takeaways
Human Rights Watch (HRW) has accused the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of recruiting and training Colombian mercenaries to support the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan's civil war. The conflict has resulted in over 150,000 deaths and displaced more than 12.9 million people.
- HRW alleges that airports in the UAE, Libya, Chad, and Somalia were used as transit points for these mercenaries before they traveled to the frontlines in Darfur.
- Colombian President Gustavo Petro has described the mercenaries as 'spectres of death' and their recruitment as a form of human trafficking.
- The RSF has faced international outrage following its violent capture of the city of El Fasher last year, with over 6,000 people killed within the first three days of the RSF offensive.
- HRW's report includes testimonies from survivors who reported seeing foreign fighters alongside RSF forces during mass killings.
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▼Source Claims Check
1 Difference FoundAll 9 publishers report consistent facts across 2 key claims. 1 point of difference noted.
| Claim | Status | Reason | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conflict Deaths | 1 Difference | Majority reports total deaths; UN specifies El Fasher toll. | ▼ |
| Mercenary Recruitment | Broad Agreement | UAE denies involvement in mercenary recruitment for Sudan war. | |
| Sexual Violence | Broad Agreement | RSF committed widespread sexual violence in Sudan. |
Conflict Deaths
▼Majority reports total deaths; UN specifies El Fasher toll.
Mercenary Recruitment
Broad AgreementUAE denies involvement in mercenary recruitment for Sudan war.
Sexual Violence
Broad AgreementRSF committed widespread sexual violence in Sudan.
This analysis is AI-generated and may not perfectly represent each source's reporting. Always read the original articles for full context.
The UAE vehemently denies these allegations, stating that it does not permit its territory to be used for recruiting, training, financing, or transit of foreign fighters to any conflict, including Sudan. The civil war in Sudan, which began on April 15, 2023, has resulted in over 150,000 deaths and displaced more than 12.9 million people.
The conflict is between the paramilitary RSF forces and the Sudanese army. HRW's report follows last month's research by the Conflict Insights Group (CIG), which also highlighted the alleged involvement of Colombian mercenaries in Darfur, Sudan's western region largely controlled by the RSF.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro has described the mercenaries as 'spectres of death' and their recruitment as a form of human trafficking. HRW alleges that airports in the UAE, Libya, Chad, and Somalia were used as transit points for these mercenaries before they traveled to the frontlines in Darfur.
The report also claims that an Abu Dhabi-based company recruited Colombian contractors who were deployed to Sudan to provide tactical and technical expertise to the RSF. The HRW investigation points to a complex network of Colombian and Emirati companies advertising 'drone pilot work in Africa' targeting former Colombian army personnel. The mercenaries were reportedly trained in UAE military facilities before being covertly deployed to war zones in Sudan, where they allegedly participated in gross human rights violations, including mass extrajudicial killings, rape, sexual slavery, looting, and destruction of civilian infrastructure.
The RSF has faced international outrage following its violent capture of the city of El Fasher last year. The United Nations Human Rights Office estimates that over 6,000 people were killed within the first three days of the RSF offensive. HRW's report includes testimonies from survivors who reported seeing foreign fighters alongside RSF forces during mass killings.
The UAE has stated that allegations involving Emirati companies supporting the RSF have been investigated and found to be without merit. The country remains committed to working with its partners to alleviate the suffering of the Sudanese people by securing a lasting ceasefire and helping create an inclusive, Sudanese-owned transition to an independent civilian-led government.
The US imposed sanctions in December 2025 on a network primarily of Colombian nationality for recruiting former Colombian soldiers and training them to fight in Sudan. The HRW report calls for the UN, African Union, and the UK and US governments to speak out about the UAE's alleged involvement in the war in Sudan.
A humanitarian organization accused forces affiliated with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of targeting civilians in an area of Sudan free of any military presence during a major Muslim holiday, killing 27 people. The attacks were carried out on villages in al-Murrah area located west of Barah town in North Kordofan.
In a village in South Darfur, a young girl about six or seven years old recounted being taken by the Janjaweed, highlighting the ongoing conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) in Sudan. The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and its allies have carried out widespread assaults since April 2023, committing sexual violence and other war crimes against women and communities in various regions.
Numerous victims who suffered violence from the RSF while trying to survive also faced blame and shame from their communities, as well as further criminalisation by the police and military intelligence. In 2025, the Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa (SIHA) documented cases of more than 850 women accused of collaboration with the RSF who were subjected to detention and long-term imprisonment; those women frequently experienced sexual violence during their time in detention.
How this summary was created
This summary synthesizes reporting from 9 independent publishers using AI. All sources are cited and linked below. NewsBalance is a news aggregator and media literacy tool, not a news publisher. AI-generated content may contain errors or inaccuracies — always verify important information with the original sources.