HRW accuses UAE-linked network of recruiting Colombians to fight in Sudan

Tuesday 26 May 2026 - 08:30

Human Rights Watch has alleged that a security company based in United Arab Emirates recruited former Colombian soldiers to fight alongside the Rapid Support Forces in the ongoing conflict in Sudan.

According to a report released by the human rights organization, Colombian private military contractors were allegedly deployed between 2024 and 2025 through a network involving companies based in the United Arab Emirates, Colombia, and Panama. The report claims that the recruitment and transit operations were linked to a security firm operating from Abu Dhabi and connected to influential Emirati figures.

Sudan has been facing a devastating civil war since April 2023, when fighting erupted between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces. The conflict has caused tens of thousands of deaths, displaced millions of civilians, and created what the United Nations describes as one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.

Human Rights Watch stated that the alleged recruitment network may have contributed to military support for the RSF, despite repeated denials from Emirati authorities. The organization argues that providing personnel, weapons, or logistical assistance to armed groups accused of war crimes could raise serious concerns under international law.

The government of the United Arab Emirates rejected the accusations, stating that the country does not allow its territory to be used for the recruitment, financing, or transportation of foreign fighters to conflict zones. Emirati officials added that any individual or organization involved in such activities would face criminal investigation.

The report also highlighted accusations of severe human rights abuses committed during the conflict in Sudan, including unlawful killings, sexual violence, looting, and attacks on civilian infrastructure. International observers continue to call for independent investigations and stronger diplomatic efforts to reduce violence in the region.

Human rights groups are urging members of the United Nations Security Council and the African Union to increase pressure on all parties involved in the conflict and to support humanitarian assistance for affected populations.