Post by : Badri Ariffin

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has made serious allegations against the United Arab Emirates (UAE), claiming that it has been training Colombian mercenaries and deploying them to support the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan, a group facing accusations of war crimes amid the ongoing conflict.

In a report released this Tuesday, HRW stated that Colombian fighters were trained at military installations in the UAE prior to their deployment to Sudan. The organization highlighted this as part of what it called “increasing evidence” of UAE's military backing for the RSF.

The UAE has categorically rejected these claims. In an official statement to the Associated Press, the UAE Foreign Ministry asserted that the nation does not permit its territory to be utilized for the recruitment, training, financing, or movement of foreign troops to conflict zones, including Sudan.

The civil conflict in Sudan erupted on April 15, 2023, following escalating tensions between the Sudanese military and the RSF, leading to violent confrontations in Khartoum and other regions. This has resulted in one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world.

The RSF traces its roots to the Janjaweed militias, historically implicated in grave human rights abuses in Sudan’s Darfur region during the early 2000s.

According to HRW, numerous Colombian fighters underwent training led by Emirati personnel at military sites in Al Dhafra and another facility in Abu Dhabi. The report references interviews with both Colombian soldiers and former military officers.

One unnamed Colombian fighter allegedly revealed to HRW that he trained RSF recruits at camps close to Nyala, South Darfur’s capital, in April of the previous year, claiming that many of the recruits were minors.

A United Nations panel previously noted the presence of Colombian mercenaries in multiple combat zones across Sudan, including Khartoum, Omdurman, Darfur, and Kordofan. The report stated that these fighters were operating drones and artillery systems while engaging in direct combat.

RSF Commander General Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo had also acknowledged in February the assistance of Colombian mercenaries in operating drones.

HRW additionally claims that the recruits were associated with the Abu Dhabi-based Global Security Services Group, a private security firm potentially related to Emirati businessman Mohammed Hamdan Al-Zaabi.

The UAE government maintains that it is not involved in these actions and warns that any private individuals or entities backing armed factions would be acting without government consent and risk facing criminal consequences under Emirati legislation.

Human Rights Watch asserts it has verified videos depicting supposed Colombian fighters engaging with the RSF during assaults in El-Fasher, a city in Darfur, last October, where more than 6,000 lives were reportedly lost within just three days.

The organization has urged the global community, including the European Union, to push the UAE to cease any alleged support for the RSF, recommending the suspension of military cooperation and arms transactions.

Meanwhile, the United States has already implemented sanctions against several individuals and companies linked to the recruitment of Colombian fighters for the Sudan conflict. However, no direct measures have been taken against the UAE in relation to these allegations.

As per the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED), around 59,000 individuals have died in the ongoing war in Sudan, with experts suggesting that the true death toll may be significantly higher due to reporting challenges from the conflict zones.

#world news #Global News #UAE News