Rights group accuses UAE of being transit point for mercenaries on way to Sudan

Source: BBC

Rights group accuses UAE of being transit point for mercenaries on way to Sudan

26 May 2026

Thomas Mukhwana
Africa correspondent

Colombian mercenaries were recruited by a United Arab Emirates-based company and transited through Emirati military bases to support paramilitary troops who committed atrocities in Sudan, a leading rights organisation alleges.

According to Human Rights Watch (HRW), the findings are further evidence of UAE-backing for the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which has been accused of war crimes during the Sudanese civil war.

The UAE denies claims it recruited and trained foreign fighters in its territory.

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The HRW investigation was conducted through interviews with Colombian mercenaries between March and September 2025 as well as an analysis of social media posts identifying key locations and weapons in videos and images.

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Read more: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1422nrgm1jo