Geneva, Switzerland (Running Africa) — Foreign fighters, weapons, and international support networks are prolonging the Sudan war and expanding the military capabilities of both sides, a UN-backed investigation has warned, raising fresh concerns over civilian casualties and possible war crimes.
The Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for Sudan said transnational networks have supplied fighters, weapons, military technology, training, and logistical support since the war erupted between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in April 2023.
The conflict has displaced more than 14 million people and created one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.
Foreign Fighters Supporting Sudan’s RSF
Investigators documented the deployment of up to 2,000 former Colombian military contractors, some of whom operated combat drones, artillery, and advanced weapons alongside RSF forces in Darfur and Kordofan.
The mission found reasonable grounds to believe that private entities, recruiters, and intermediaries operating from countries including Colombia and the United Arab Emirates used transit points in Chad, southeastern Libya, and Somalia to facilitate personnel, weapons, training, and logistics for the RSF.
The UAE has repeatedly denied providing military support to the RSF.
Witnesses also reported fighters from South Sudan, Chad, and Ethiopia, including women serving primarily in frontline roles.
Drone Attacks Raise War Crimes Concerns
Foreign support has also transformed Sudan’s battlefield through increasingly sophisticated drone warfare.
Investigators found reasonable grounds to believe that the Sudanese army used foreign-supplied drones in operations that harmed civilians and civilian infrastructure.
More than 1,000 people were killed in drone strikes during the first five months of 2026, according to the investigation. Both the SAF and RSF were accused of serious violations during drone operations, with some attacks potentially amounting to war crimes.
Civilian homes, hospitals, schools, markets, and displacement sites have been struck as both sides expand their ability to attack targets far beyond traditional front lines.
UN Investigators Call for Wider Sudan Arms Embargo
The fact-finding mission warned that responsibility should extend beyond those directly carrying out attacks to those who finance, supply, and facilitate the conflict.
Investigators urged countries to disrupt illicit mercenary and weapons networks, enforce the existing Darfur arms embargo, and halt military transfers where there is a serious risk of contributing to violations.
They also called on the UN Security Council to extend the arms embargo across Sudan, arguing that restricting the foreign weapons, personnel, financing, and technology sustaining the conflict is critical to protecting civilians.
