Sudan’s air force has successfully destroyed an Emirati aircraft carrying Colombian mercenaries as the plane landed at a paramilitary-controlled airport in Darfur. According to army-aligned state TV, the attack killed at least 40 individuals. A military source, who spoke to AFP on the condition of anonymity, confirmed that the UAE plane “was bombed and completely destroyed” at Nyala airport in Darfur.
The Nyala airport has faced repeated airstrikes from the Sudanese army as part of the ongoing conflict with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which has persisted since April 2023. Currently, there has been no immediate comment from either the RSF or the United Arab Emirates regarding this incident.
Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro stated that his government is working to determine how many Colombians died in the attack, expressing a commitment to “see if we can bring their bodies back” through a post on the social media platform X.
Allegations Against the UAE
State TV reported that the aircraft had taken off from a Gulf airbase, carrying dozens of foreign fighters and military equipment intended for the RSF, which controls nearly all of Darfur. The Sudanese army, led by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, has long accused the UAE of supplying advanced weaponry, including drones, to the RSF via Nyala airport. Despite these allegations, Abu Dhabi has denied any wrongdoing, with numerous reports from UN experts, US political officials, and international organizations support these claims.
Satellite images released by Yale University’s Humanitarian Research Lab have revealed multiple Chinese-made long-range drones at the airport in South Darfur’s capital. In June, three witnesses informed AFP that a cargo plane was bombed shortly after landing at Nyala airport.
On Monday, Sudan’s army-aligned government accused the UAE of recruiting and funding Colombian mercenaries to fight for the RSF. They claimed to possess documents that substantiate these allegations. Reports of Colombian fighters in Darfur date back to late 2024 and have been confirmed by UN experts.
Colombian Mercenaries in Darfur
This week, the Joint Forces, a pro-army coalition in Darfur, reported over 80 Colombian mercenaries fighting alongside the RSF in El-Fasher. This city remains the last Darfur state capital under army control. The coalition stated that several mercenaries were reportedly killed during the RSF’s latest offensive, which involved drone and artillery operations.
The army also released video footage purportedly showing “foreign mercenaries believed to be from Colombia.” However, AFP has not been able to verify the authenticity of these videos.
In December, Sudan reported that Colombia’s foreign ministry expressed regret for the involvement of some of its citizens in the ongoing war. Colombian mercenaries, many of whom are former soldiers and guerrillas, have participated in various global conflicts. Previously, they were hired by the UAE for operations in Yemen and the Gulf.
In his post on Wednesday, President Petro announced his intention to ban mercenary activity. He condemned this practice, calling it “a trade in men turned into commodities to kill.”
Sudan’s war, now in its third year, has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and displaced 13 million people. The conflict has plunged the nation into the world’s worst hunger and displacement crisis.
