British Guardian Investigation Uncovers Hundreds of Colombian Mercenaries Engaged in Sudan War

In a detailed exposé published by the The Guardian, hundreds of Colombian mercenaries have been documented fighting in Sudan, where they train child recruits and participate directly in combat alongside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia in besieged El Fasher.

Background: From Colombia to Sudan

One mercenary who used the alias “Carlos” described his journey: recruited with promises of high pay, he signed a contract in Bogotá for US$2,600 per month, flew via Europe to Ethiopia, then to the UAE, Somalia, and ultimately to Ni Alla in South Darfur. Former Colombian soldiers – many veteran military personnel – are reportedly being used by RSF to compensate for local recruitment and training deficiencies.

Training of Child Soldiers and Combat Operations

In his interview, Carlos stated that the mercenaries not only fought, but trained Sudanese recruits – the majority of them children with no prior weapons experience – in assault rifles, machine guns and RPGs. These trainees were then sent directly to frontlines. In El Fasher reports reveal they operated from ruined residential buildings, supervised mass executions, and enforced a 32-kilometre siege wall around the city.

Foreign Sponsorship and Regional Implications

Investigations indicate involvement by private security firms linked to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which allegedly recruited Colombians through Gulf-based contractors, and transferred them via Somalia and Libya into Sudan. The Sudanese government has formally accused the UAE of “financing, recruiting and deploying” Colombian mercenaries to fight for the RSF.

War-Business Reality

Carlos described the conflict bluntly: “War is a business… I came for the money but paid with lives.” Analysts argue the revival of mercenary networks reflects a return to a form of “corporate war”, where states outsource fighting and civilians bear the cost.

Significance and Take-away

The report highlights how Sudan’s war has become a theatre not just for national factions but for cross-border mercenary flows, with severe humanitarian and accountability implications. It elevates concerns over child soldier recruitment, foreign sponsorship of militias, and state-level deniability.