Sudan Says Army Destroys Emirati Aircraft, Killing 40 Mercenaries

Sudan’s air force has reportedly destroyed an Emirati aircraft transporting Colombian mercenaries as it attempted to land at a paramilitary-controlled airport in Darfur, killing at least 40 people. The announcement was made on Wednesday via Sudanese state television, which is aligned with the army.

According to a military source speaking to AFP on condition of anonymity, the aircraft “was bombed and completely destroyed” as it arrived at Nyala Airport in Darfur — a strategic site that has seen repeated bombardment by the Sudanese military amid ongoing conflict with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since April 2023.

Neither the RSF nor the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has issued an immediate response.

Details of the Strike

State TV reported that the plane was carrying dozens of foreign fighters and military equipment for the RSF, which now controls nearly all of the Darfur region.

Accusations Against the UAE

Sudan’s army, led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, has consistently accused the UAE of arming the RSF with advanced weaponry, including long-range drones, often routed through Nyala Airport. Though Abu Dhabi has denied these allegations, reports by UN experts, US officials, and international watchdogs have echoed similar claims.

Satellite imagery released by Yale University’s Humanitarian Research Lab has revealed the presence of Chinese-made drones at the airport in South Darfur, bolstering suspicions of external military support.

International Reactions

Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro responded to the incident, stating that his government was investigating how many of its nationals were among the dead. On the social media platform X, he wrote:

“We will see if we can bring their bodies back.”

President Petro also expressed strong disapproval of mercenary involvement and pledged legislative action:

“This is a trade in men turned into commodities to kill. We will move to ban mercenary activity.”

Growing Evidence of Colombian Mercenaries in Darfur

The presence of Colombian fighters in Darfur has been documented as far back as late 2024 and confirmed by United Nations experts. This week, the Joint Forces — a pro-army coalition in Darfur — reported that more than 80 Colombian mercenaries were fighting alongside RSF units in El-Fasher, the last Darfur state capital still under army control.

The Sudanese military also released video footage purportedly showing foreign mercenaries believed to be Colombian. However, AFP has not independently verified the authenticity of these videos.

Diplomatic History and Prior Statements

In December 2024, Sudanese officials stated that Colombia’s foreign ministry had expressed regret over the participation of its nationals in the Sudanese conflict. The involvement of Colombian ex-soldiers and former guerrilla fighters as mercenaries is not new; many have been employed in global conflict zones, often under contracts issued by Gulf states such as the UAE.

The Humanitarian Toll of Sudan’s War

Sudan’s internal conflict, now entering its third year, has brought catastrophic consequences to the nation:

This latest development intensifies scrutiny over the regional and international dimensions of Sudan’s war, particularly as foreign mercenaries and weapon flows deepen the already devastating humanitarian crisis.