ALBAWABA- A military plane allegedly operated by the United Arab Emirates and carrying dozens of Colombian mercenaries was destroyed in an airstrike by the Sudanese army as it landed at Nyala airport in Darfur, according to Sudanese state television.
At least 40 people were reportedly killed, all believed to be foreign fighters aligned with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
The plane, which Sudanese officials say had departed from a Gulf air base, was reportedly transporting weapons and military equipment destined for RSF-controlled territory.
A Sudanese military source, speaking on condition of anonymity, claimed the aircraft was “bombed and completely destroyed” as part of an ongoing military campaign against the RSF, which has been battling the Sudanese army since April 2023.
Sudan’s military leader, Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, and the UAE government have not yet made any official comments.
However, Colombian President Gustavo Petro acknowledged the incident, stating on social media that his government is investigating how many Colombian nationals were killed and is working to recover their bodies.
President Gustavo Petro announced that he had urgently called for legislation prohibiting mercenarism in Colombia. He also confirmed that he has instructed the Colombian ambassador in Egypt to verify the number of nationals killed, amid unconfirmed reports suggesting up to 40 Colombian fatalities in the Darfur airstrike.
The United Arab Emirates, in a strongly worded statement from its Ministry of Foreign Affairs, categorically denied any involvement in Sudan’s civil war or support for armed factions. The UAE rejected the accusations made by what it called the “so-called Port Sudan Authority,” claiming they were baseless and politically motivated.
The statement emphasized that the UAE remains committed to supporting a peaceful, civilian-led transition in Sudan and cited recent international rulings and reports, including one by the UN Panel of Experts on Sudan and a decision by the International Court of Justice, as evidence that no credible link to the conflict had been established.
Despite these denials, reports of Colombian mercenaries operating in Sudan have been surfacing since late 2024. This week, the pro-army Joint Forces in Darfur claimed that over 80 Colombian fighters were involved in combat operations alongside the RSF in El Fasher, the last Darfur state capital still under army control.
The group said many of these mercenaries were killed in recent drone and artillery strikes. The Sudanese army also released videos purporting to show foreign fighters, allegedly Colombians, although AFP has not independently verified their authenticity.
Colombia has previously acknowledged concern over the involvement of some of its nationals in foreign conflicts. In December, Sudan reported that Colombia's foreign ministry had expressed regret over its citizens’ participation in the war.
Colombian mercenaries, often ex-soldiers, have been known to serve in private military operations around the world, including for UAE-led missions in Yemen.
