UN mission finds foreign mercenaries and arms fuel Sudan war

September 4, 2026 at 09:10 AM2 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

A UN fact-finding mission reported Thursday that foreign mercenaries and external arms supplies are fueling the conflict in Sudan. The mission documented up to 2,000 former Colombian military contractors operating drones and artillery alongside the Rapid Support Forces in Darfur and Kordofan. The report calls on states to investigate and halt illegal mercenary and logistics networks, even as fighting continues between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF.

Key Facts

The UN mission documented up to 2,000 former Colombian military contractors directly involved in operating strike drones, artillery, and advanced weapons alongside RSF units in Darfur and Kordofan.
The report states there are reasonable grounds to believe the Sudanese Armed Forces used foreign-supplied drones in operations that harmed civilians and civilian objects.
Private entities and recruiters from Colombia and the UAE may have used transit points in Chad, southeastern Libya, and the Somali city of Bosaso to move personnel, weapons, and logistics for the RSF.
Mission chair Mohamed Chande Othman said external support has not brought greater protection to civilians, but instead put homes, hospitals, schools, markets, and shelters in the line of fire.

Foreign Support Networks

The UN Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for Sudan documented transnational structures operating across several countries that recruit, train, and deploy foreign personnel to support the Rapid Support Forces. These networks also facilitate the transfer of weapons, ammunition, and military technology to the RSF. Private entities and recruiters from Colombia and the United Arab Emirates may have used transit points in Chad, southeastern Libya, and the Somali city of Bosaso to move personnel, weapons, and logistics for the RSF. Mission expert Mona Rishmawi identified a transnational network spanning several countries that supported the RSF.

Impact on Civilians

The mission stated that external support has strengthened the military capacity of both warring parties and enabled increasingly sophisticated operations with catastrophic consequences for civilians. Mission chair Mohamed Chande Othman said the consequences of this external support are felt most acutely by civilians, who pay a high price as homes, hospitals, schools, markets, and shelters come under attack. The report says there are reasonable grounds to believe the Sudanese Armed Forces used foreign-supplied drones in operations that harmed civilians and civilian objects. The mission recorded gross human rights violations, breaches of international humanitarian law, and international crimes, including acts with signs of genocide, in areas where the RSF operated with external support, including the Zamzam camp and the capture of El Fasher.

Accountability and Embargo

The mission pointed to strict international legal obligations of states linked to these supply chains to investigate and halt illegal mercenary and logistics networks operating on their territory. States must prevent violations and ensure compliance with the UN arms embargo on Sudan. The experts called for accountability for those responsible amid ongoing fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces.