A new report by Human Rights Watch (HRW) says that the UAE trained mercenaries from Colombia and sent them to fight in the Sudanese war. These soldiers are fighting along with Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). UAE has termed all these allegations as false. The report said that UAE has already been accused of providing money and military support to RSF. RSF has also been accused of serious charges like war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.
According to HRW, hundreds of Colombian mercenaries were trained by UAE citizens. This training was given in a military base in Al Dhafra area and a center in Abu Dhabi. After this these soldiers were sent to Sudan, where they joined the war with RSF. The report also includes the statement of a Colombian soldier. He said he trained new fighters in RSF camps near the town of Nyala in South Darfur. He also claimed that many young children were also recruited there
Similar allegations in UN report also
A report by United Nations experts also said that Colombian mercenaries were active in many parts of Sudan. These include areas like Khartoum, Omdurman, Darfur and Kordofan. These soldiers are accused of operating drones, using artillery and armored vehicles and participating in direct attacks.
RSF leader General Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo admitted in a video in February that Colombian mercenaries were helping his group operate drones. HRW says that these mercenaries were recruited by a private security company named Global Security Services Group, whose headquarters is in Abu Dhabi. According to UN experts, the owner of this company is Mohammed Hamdan Al-Zabi, who is an Emirati citizen.
UAE government rejected the allegations
HRW said that it sought response from the UAE government and this company, but did not receive any response. Whereas the UAE Foreign Ministry rejected these allegations and said that its country’s land is not used for recruiting, training or sending any foreign fighter. The ministry also said that if any person or company does this, strict action will be taken against it.
HRW said it also has video evidence that shows alleged Colombian mercenaries fighting with the RSF. The report also said that a large number of people were killed in an RSF attack on the town of El-Fashar in Darfur in October. HRW has appealed to the international community to put pressure on the UAE to stop providing any kind of assistance to RSF.
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