How foreign interest is fuelling Sudan’s war

The war in Sudan’s Darfur region has taken a darker turn, not only in its brutality but in the growing international allegations of foreign interference, most notably, claims that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is actively sponsoring the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The accusations, long whispered in diplomatic circles, have now erupted into full […]

The war in Sudan’s Darfur region has taken a darker turn, not only in its brutality but in the growing international allegations of foreign interference, most notably, claims that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is actively sponsoring the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

The accusations, long whispered in diplomatic circles, have now erupted into full view following a deadly airstrike and a massacre in a displacement camp.
On Monday, at least 40 civilians were killed in an attack on Abu Shouk camp, a sprawling settlement housing over 200,000 displaced people near el-Fasher, the last major city in Darfur still held by Sudan’s army.

The Abu Shouk Emergency Response Room and local resistance committees blamed the RSF for the assault, describing scenes of horror where victims were shot inside their homes and in public.

Satellite imagery analysed by the Yale Humanitarian Research Lab identified a convoy of 40 light vehicles approaching from the northwest, corroborating eyewitness accounts.

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The lab also said it was investigating footage allegedly showing RSF fighters shooting at civilians crawling away and hurling ethnic slurs, echoes of the Janjaweed militia’s genocidal campaign two decades ago, from which the RSF emerged.

The RSF has denied accusations of genocide, framing its actions as part of tribal conflict. But the evidence is mounting.

The United States has sanctioned the RSF, citing ethnic cleansing and genocide, and Sudanese officials now claim the group is being propped up by foreign powers.

Foreign fighters and a bombed plane
Last Wednesday, Sudan’s army-aligned state TV reported that its air force had destroyed a UAE aircraft carrying Colombian mercenaries and military equipment as it landed at Nyala Airport, an RSF-controlled facility in South Darfur.

The strike reportedly killed at least 40 people. A military source told AFP the plane was “bombed and completely destroyed,” while Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro confirmed efforts to recover the bodies of nationals killed in the attack.

The UAE has denied the accusations, calling them false and politically motivated. However, Sudan’s government insists it has documents proving that Abu Dhabi has recruited and funded foreign fighters for the RSF.
“The aircraft had taken off from a Gulf airbase,” state TV said, “carrying dozens of foreign fighters and military equipment intended for the RSF.”

The presence of Colombian mercenaries in Darfur has been confirmed by UN experts, with reports dating back to late 2024.

This week, the Joint Forces, a pro-army coalition, claimed that over 80 Colombian fighters were operating in el-Fasher.

The army released video footage allegedly showing these mercenaries, though it has not been independently verified.

In a statement last December, Sudan said Colombia’s Foreign Ministry expressed regret over the involvement of its citizens.

President Petro has since vowed to ban mercenary activity, calling it “a trade in men turned into commodities to kill.”
The implications of these allegations are profound. If proven, they suggest a direct violation of international law and a dangerous precedent for foreign-sponsored militias operating in sovereign conflicts.

Sudanese officials argue that the UAE’s involvement is not just logistical but strategic, providing advanced weaponry, including Chinese-made drones, which have been spotted in satellite images at Nyala Airport.

Diplomatic alarm and humanitarian collapse

“The RSF continues to shell peaceful cities like Al-Fajr, Kadugli-Dilling, Abyei, and Babanosa,” said the Chargé d’Affaires of the Sudan Embassy in Nigeria, Mr Mohamed Khairy Algedail Arbab, in an interview with Daily Trust. “They impose blockades and use hunger as a weapon to force cities into collapse. Actions that, as a government, we see as a silent genocide against civilians—innocent civilians.”

Arbab,’s remarks reflect growing frustration within Sudan’s diplomatic corps, who are now calling for urgent international intervention. “We need the international community to shoulder its responsibility to protect civilians and hold accountable those responsible for these atrocities – the militia, its leadership, and the states that sponsor and support it.

“My appeal also goes to our African brothers. If we allow the UAE to bring down Sudan, this will inevitably serve as a catalyst for other groups in the region to follow suit, and no nation will be spared.”

The UN World Food Programme warns that thousands trapped in el-Fasher are at risk of starvation, while a cholera outbreak in Tawila has infected over 2,000 people and killed dozens. The war, now in its third year, has displaced 13 million people and created the world’s worst hunger crisis, according to the UN.

US, UN, AU condemn RSF attacks
The United States has condemned the killings of civilians, allegedly by the RSF in the Abo Shok refugee camp in El Fasher, North Darfur.

The US senior adviser for Africa, Massad Boulos, stated in a post on his X page on Tuesday night that, “We remain deeply alarmed by the deteriorating situation and reports of RSF violence against civilians in and around El Fasher.

“We call for unhindered humanitarian access and the protection of civilians, including safe passage for those fleeing violence,” the statement read. Similarly, the African Union, in a communiqué of the 1293rd Meeting of the Peace and Security Council held on 4 August 2025, had expressed deep concern over the worsening humanitarian and security crisis in Sudan, particularly the famine in El-Fasher, and condemned the creation of a parallel government by the RSF.

The body called for an immediate and unconditional cessation of hostilities and urged all parties to commit to inclusive, inter-Sudanese political dialogue.

It reaffirmed support for Sudan’s democratic transition, welcomed the appointment of a civilian Prime Minister, and emphasised the need for coordinated international efforts under the leadership of the AU and IGAD.

The PSC also denounced external interference, urged protection of civilians and respect for international law, and called for consolidation of peace initiatives into a single AU-led process.
In its earlier meeting held on 29 July 2025, following the announcement on Saturday, 26 July 2025, of the establishment of a parallel government in the Republic of Sudan by the Sudanese coalition (Tasis) led by the RSF, the PSC strongly condemned the move, rejecting any attempt to fragment the country.

Reaffirming respect for Sudan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, the Council urged all AU Member States and the international community not to recognise or support the so-called parallel government.

In a statement on Wednesday, the members of the United Nations Security Council rejected the announcement of the establishment of a parallel governing authority in areas controlled by the RSF.
They expressed grave concern about the implications of such actions, which represent a direct threat to Sudan’s territorial integrity and unity and further risk exacerbating the ongoing conflict in Sudan, fragmenting the country and worsening an already dire humanitarian situation.

The members of the Security Council unequivocally reaffirmed their unwavering commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Sudan.

They stressed that any unilateral steps that undermine these principles threaten not only the future of Sudan but also the peace and stability of the broader region.

They reiterated that the priority is for the parties to resume talks to reach a lasting ceasefire and create the necessary conditions for a political resolution on the conflict, involving all Sudanese political and social actors to re-establish a credible and inclusive political transition towards a democratically elected national Government following a civilian-led transitional period to realize the aspirations of the Sudanese people for a peaceful, stable and prosperous future, in full accordance with the principles of national ownership.

The members of the Security Council also recalled resolution 2736 (2024), which demands that the RSF lift the siege of El Fasher and calls for an immediate halt to the fighting and for de-escalation in and around El Fasher.
While expressing grave concern about incoming reports of a renewed RSF offensive in El Fasher, the members of the Security Council urged the RSF to allow unhindered humanitarian access to El Fasher.

As international bodies scramble to consolidate peace efforts, the question remains: Can Sudan survive the weight of foreign-sponsored warfare?
The answer may depend not only on battlefield outcomes but on whether the world is willing to confront the shadow players behind the RSF’s rise.