Sudanese army downs Emirati plane, 40 Colombian mercenaries reportedly killed

Thursday 07 August 2025 - 08:15

Khartoum, August 7, 2025 – The Sudanese Air Force has reportedly destroyed a plane belonging to the United Arab Emirates as it attempted to land at Nyala airport in South Darfur, a zone controlled by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). According to state television and a military source, the strike killed at least 40 Colombian mercenaries on board.

The aircraft “was bombed and completely destroyed” during its landing, a military source told AFP under condition of anonymity. This airport has been repeatedly targeted by the army since the civil war broke out in April 2023 between the regular forces of General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the RSF, led by his former deputy Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (known as "Hemedti").

In June, similar reports described another cargo aircraft being hit upon arrival at the same airport.

No immediate statements have been released by the Sudanese army, the RSF, or the Emirati authorities.

Foreign involvement escalates

Sudan’s military leadership has long accused the UAE of backing the RSF with advanced weapons, including drones allegedly routed through Nyala airport — claims Abu Dhabi denies. However, several UN and NGO reports, as well as satellite images from Yale University's Humanitarian Research Lab, indicate the presence of long-range Chinese-made drones in the region.

This week, the Sudanese government accused the UAE of recruiting and financing Colombian mercenaries to fight alongside the RSF, citing classified documents in its possession. Colombian fighters, many of them former soldiers or guerrillas, have appeared in other international conflicts, notably in Yemen and the Gulf, often linked to Emirati operations.

In late 2024, UN experts confirmed the presence of Colombian mercenaries in Darfur. Recently, the pro-army Joint Forces coalition reported the presence of over 80 such mercenaries fighting with the RSF in El-Fasher, the last state capital in Darfur under army control. Several of them are believed to have been killed.

Sudan’s army also released videos allegedly showing captured or deceased Colombian fighters, although AFP has not been able to verify them independently.

In December, Sudan claimed that Colombia’s foreign ministry had expressed regret over the involvement of its nationals in the conflict.

Now entering its third year, the war in Sudan has killed tens of thousands, displaced more than 13 million people, and triggered what the UN calls the world’s worst humanitarian crisis today.