Foreign fighters, weapons networks fuelling Sudan war: UN fact-finding mission

Foreign recruitment and international support networks are fuelling Sudan’s war by providing fighters, weapons and military technology to the country’s warring parties, a UN investigation said Thursday.

The UN Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for the Sudan said in a new report that transnational networks operating across several countries have recruited, trained and deployed foreign personnel to support the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), while facilitating transfers of weapons, ammunition and logistical support.

The mission documented the deployment of up to 2,000 former Colombian military contractors who directly operated combat drones, artillery and advanced weapons alongside RSF units in Darfur and Kordofan.

It found “reasonable grounds to believe” that private entities, intermediaries and recruiters operating from countries including Colombia and the United Arab Emirates used transit points in Chad, southeastern Libya and Somalia to support the RSF.

The investigation also found "reasonable grounds to believe" the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) used foreign-supplied drones in operations that harmed civilians and civilian objects.

“The consequences of this external support are being felt most acutely by civilians,” mission chair Mohamed Chande Othman said.

The mission said attacks documented on both sides may amount to war crimes and urged states to halt illicit supply networks and enforce the UN arms embargo.