United Arab Emirates military facilities were used to train Colombian mercenaries who then fought alongside the Rapid Support Forces in Sudan [1].
This evidence suggests a direct role for the UAE in escalating the Sudanese civil war. By providing specialized training to foreign fighters, the UAE may be facilitating the operations of the RSF, a group accused of severe human rights abuses.
Reports from Human Rights Watch and Sudanese authorities said the training took place at military bases in Ghiyathi and Al Wathba [1], [2]. These mercenaries were subsequently deployed to conflict zones, including El Fasher, to bolster RSF capabilities [1], [2].
Sudanese officials said the UAE has supported the RSF and been complicit in genocide [1], [4]. These allegations have been central to legal proceedings, including a case brought before the International Court of Justice in April 2025 [4].
While the UAE has officially denied involvement in the conflict, the identification of specific training sites and the movement of Colombian personnel provide a physical link between the Gulf state and the fighting [1], [2], [3]. The report detailing these activities first surfaced in 2024, with further corroborating evidence emerging throughout 2025 and this week [2], [3], [5].
The deployment of mercenaries from South America to East Africa via the Middle East highlights the complex international networks supporting the warring factions in Sudan [1], [5]. These foreign fighters bring specialized skills to the RSF, potentially altering the tactical balance on the ground in regions like El Fasher [1], [2].
“UAE military bases were used to train Colombian mercenaries who were then sent to fight alongside the Rapid Support Forces.”
The revelation of UAE-based training for Colombian mercenaries transforms the narrative of the Sudan conflict from a domestic power struggle into a proxy war with international logistical support. By linking specific UAE military installations to foreign fighters, the evidence increases the legal and diplomatic pressure on the UAE, potentially strengthening the case for state complicity in war crimes at the International Court of Justice.
