UAE Accused of Training Colombian Mercenaries for Sudan Conflict
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) trained Colombian mercenaries before deploying them to fight alongside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a notorious paramilitary group in Sudan’s devastating war, according to Human Rights Watch on Tuesday. This new report represents the latest accusation from international human rights advocates against the wealthy Gulf monarchy. They claim that the UAE provides financial and military assistance to the RSF, which faces widespread accusations of committing war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide.
The UAE denied these recent allegations in response to inquiries from The Associated Press. The report adds to a ‘growing body of evidence.’
The recruitment of Colombian private military contractors contributes to a growing body of evidence that the UAE provides military support to the Rapid Support Forces, who have repeatedly committed heinous atrocities in Sudan,
The war in Sudan began on April 15, 2023, when a power struggle between the army and the RSF escalated into battles in the capital, Khartoum, and other parts of the northeast African nation. The RSF evolved from the feared Janjaweed Arab militias, infamous for atrocities in Darfur’s western Sudanese region in the early 2000s against those identified as coming from eastern or central Africa.
HRW’s report cites that hundreds of Colombian mercenaries were trained by Emirati citizens at a military base in Al Dhafra, about 250 kilometers west of Abu Dhabi, and another facility in the same city. They were then deployed to Sudan to fight with the RSF. An unidentified Colombian mercenary mentioned training RSF recruits around Nyala, the capital of South Darfur province, last year, noting many recruits were ‘young children.’ HRW interviewed another Colombian mercenary and additional sources, including former Colombian military officers.
An UN expert panel report in September stated that Colombian mercenaries fought in various Sudan areas, including Khartoum, Omdurman, and Darfur and Kordofan regions. Their combat functions included operating drones, artillery, and RSF armored vehicles, as well as participating in direct assaults.
RSF Commander General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo admitted in a February video that Colombian mercenaries assisted his group in operating drones. The report urges countries to pressure the UAE to stop supporting the RSF.
The mercenaries were hired by Global Security Services Group, a private security firm based in Abu Dhabi, chaired by Emirati citizen Mohamed Hamdan Al Zaabi, according to HRW. However, Emirati authorities and the company did not comment. The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs denied the allegations in an email to the AP.
The UAE does not allow its territory to be used for recruiting, training, financing, or transiting foreign fighters into any conflict, including Sudan,
The ministry stated that any private entity or individual providing support to non-state armed groups would do so without the State’s authorization, violating Emirati law, and be subject to investigation and prosecution. HRW corroborated videos apparently showing Colombian mercenaries fighting alongside the RSF when they seized El Fasher in Darfur in an offensive resembling ‘genocide’ according to UN experts. At least 6,000 people died over three days, as per the UN.
The rights group urged the international community, including the European Union, to pressure the UAE to halt its RSF support by suspending military cooperation and arms sales. Segun called for other nations to stop accepting the UAE’s categorical denials of RSF support, which contradict the facts, and end impunity for war crimes.
The United States has sanctioned various individuals and companies in Bogotá for allegedly recruiting and deploying Colombian mercenaries with the RSF. Yet, it has not addressed reports of presumed UAE support for the RSF, accused of repeatedly carrying out ‘summary executions, ethnically motivated attacks, sexual and gender-based violence, and torture in controlled areas’ during the war.
An independent nonprofit, the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project, estimated at least 59,000 deaths over three years. They cautioned that the figure is likely underestimated due to reporting difficulties.