Africa-Press. Human Rights Watch stated that the UAE trained Colombian mercenaries before sending them to fight alongside a notorious militia group in the devastating war in Sudan.
“The recruitment of Colombian private military contractors adds to a growing body of evidence that the UAE is providing military support to the Rapid Support Forces, which have repeatedly committed horrific atrocities in Sudan,” said Mausi Segun, the executive director of the Africa division at Human Rights Watch.
The organization reported that hundreds of Colombian mercenaries received training from UAE nationals at a military base in the Al Dhafra region, about 250 kilometers (155 miles) west of the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi, and at another facility in Abu Dhabi, before being deployed to Sudan to fight alongside the Rapid Support Forces.
The organization quoted an unnamed Colombian mercenary who said he trained recruits from the Rapid Support Forces at camps around Nyala, the capital of South Darfur, in April of last year. According to the mercenary, many of the recruits were “young children.”
A UN expert panel reported in a document submitted to the UN Security Council in September that Colombian mercenaries fought in multiple areas in Sudan, including Khartoum, the neighboring city of Omdurman, and the regions of Darfur and Kordofan, among others.
The experts explained that the combat roles of the mercenaries included operating drones for the Rapid Support Forces, artillery, armored vehicles, as well as participating in direct attacks.
The organization reported that the mercenaries were hired by a private security company based in Abu Dhabi.
According to UN experts, the company was headed by Mohammed Hamdan Al Zaabi, a UAE national. The organization noted that the UAE authorities and the company did not respond to their requests for comment.
The Human Rights Watch report stated that videos showing mercenaries believed to be Colombian fighting alongside the Rapid Support Forces were verified when they took control of the city of El Fasher in Darfur in October, during an attack described by experts as having “genocidal characteristics.” According to the UN, at least 6,000 people were killed in three days.
The rights group called for pressure on the UAE to end its support for the Rapid Support Forces by suspending military cooperation and arms sales.
Segun stated, “Other countries must stop accepting the UAE’s absolute denial of the support provided to the Rapid Support Forces, which contradicts the facts, and they should put an end to its impunity for war crimes and crimes against humanity.”
