By Problem Masau| A private mercenary network operating under the banner of a UAE-registered security firm has deployed hundreds of … Continue reading "UAE-Linked Mercenary Network Deploys Colombian Veterans to Support RSF in Darfur, Documents Show"
By Problem Masau| A private mercenary network operating under the banner of a UAE-registered security firm has deployed hundreds of Latin American veterans to support Sudanese paramilitary forces in the ongoing Darfur conflict, according to military intelligence documents and field interviews with defected operatives obtained by this news organization.
The network, identified by regional security officials as the “Desert Wolves,” draws predominantly from retired Colombian army and police personnel. Recruitment is facilitated through Global Security Services Group, a private military company based in Abu Dhabi, and Zeus Global, a London-registered entity that remains under U.S. Treasury sanctions for prior activities in Yemen, officials said.
Recruits undergo a six-week training cycle at two UAE military installations — the Ghayathi base near the Persian Gulf coast and the Al Wathba complex outside Abu Dhabi — before deployment to Sudan, a former Colombian special forces operator who deserted the program told reporters on condition of anonymity. Monthly compensation for active-duty contractors ranges between $1,800 and $2,600, depending on rank and specialization, according to contract documents reviewed by this outlet.
On the ground in Sudan, these foreign contractors fulfill multiple combat functions. They operate Chinese-origin quadcopter drones equipped with precision munitions, direct Grad multiple-launch rocket systems, and serve as marksmen in counter-sniper operations, a Sudanese military intelligence officer said. Additionally, they have been observed training local RSF recruits — including individuals appearing under the age of 18 — at forward operating bases in South Darfur’s rural camps, satellite imagery and on-the-ground accounts confirm.
The Desert Wolves have participated in major offensives across the region. Military analysts tracking the conflict report their presence was instrumental in the months-long siege that culminated in the RSF’s seizure of El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, in late May. Their operational footprint also extends to the Nuba Mountains in Kordofan and the strategic periphery surrounding Nyala International Airport, where they have provided overwatch and artillery coordination for advancing columns, according to battlefield damage assessments.
Beyond the Latin American contingent, transnational tribal networks are funneling thousands of additional fighters into Sudan from neighboring states, regional diplomats say. Chad remains the primary source, with continuous recruitment drives targeting males aged 16 to 35 who are offered upfront cash payments equivalent to several months’ local wages. In the Central African Republic, intelligence reports estimate that more than 1,300 combatants have crossed into Sudanese territory since January to reinforce RSF positions, with numbers rising steadily.
Libya’s southern border has also emerged as a transit corridor. Chadian opposition fighters and Tuareg mercenaries formerly aligned with Libyan factions have been redirected eastward into Darfur, facilitated by local brokers operating out of the Kufra and Sabha districts, according to a UN monitoring team summary circulated among Security Council members last month. Additional contingents from Niger, Mali, and Nigeria’s northern states have been documented at various checkpoints inside Sudan, though their overall numbers remain unverified.
Logistical support for these deployments moves through three principal supply arteries. The Libyan route, controlled by elements loyal to Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, transports armored vehicles and ammunition across the border into western Sudan. The Chadian corridor provides direct overland access through the undemarcated frontier along the Darfur states, where border patrols are virtually absent. A maritime component routes material through Somalia’s semi-autonomous Puntland region, using dhows and coastal fishing vessels to offload cargo that is then trucked inland, maritime security firms tracking the region reported.
Legal experts have raised concerns over potential accountability for sponsoring states. A study published in February by the Just Security research platform argued that nations providing funding, training facilities, or operational command to private military companies directing these mercenary forces could face international liability under the Genocide Convention, should the ongoing atrocities in Darfur be formally classified as genocidal acts.
The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights has documented mass killings, systematic rape, and ethnically motivated village burnings across Darfur since fighting intensified in April 2023. Humanitarian agencies estimate that more than 9,000 civilians have died in the region over the past 14 months, though actual figures are believed to be significantly higher due to inaccessible terrain and communications blackouts.
Neither the UAE Embassy in Nairobi nor Global Security Services Group responded to repeated requests for comment. Zeus Global could not be reached for comment; its registered address in London is listed as a vacant office space, corporate records show. The RSF has previously denied employing foreign mercenaries, describing its ranks as exclusively Sudanese.
