eFinder

eFinder

Home › UAE Accountability › Article

Colombian mercenaries in Sudan: Phone tracking shows they backed the RSF - report

BBC News · · 912 words · By Barbara Plett Usher
UAE Accountability Mercenary Warfare Foreign Intervention in Sudan
open_in_new Read the original article: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn4vk13wgwwo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss

psychologyDetected Techniques

warning
Loaded Language 80% confidence
Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.

fact_checkFact-Check Results

20 claims extracted and verified against multiple sources including cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia.

schedule Pending 10
check_circle Corroborated 5
info Single Source 3
help Insufficient Evidence 2
check_circle
“A network of Colombian mercenaries backed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) provided critical support to Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) enabling it to capture the western city of el-Fasher last year”
CORROBORATED
Multiple independent sources (Wikipedia, news reports) confirm the RSF captured el-Fasher and that a report links UAE-backed Colombian mercenaries to this support.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — The Rapid Support Forces are a Sudanese paramilitary force formerly operated by the Sudanese government.In October 2025, the RSF captured El Fasher, the last major SAF stronghold in Darfur, following …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rapid_Support_Forces
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — A network of Colombian mercenaries backed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) provided critical support to Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) enabling it to capture the western city of el-F…
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn4vk13wgwwo
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Its support helped the RSF to advance on the Uwaynat area, a border triangle where Sudan, Egypt and Libya meet, but “weakened border security in southern Libya,” the report said. Colombian mercenaries…
https://www.africanews.com/2026/04/22/libya-uae-fuelled-suda…
check_circle
“The investigation, by security analysis organisation the Conflict Insights Group (CIG), used data obtained from tracking the mobile phones of the Colombian fighters.”
CORROBORATED
Three independent sources confirm that the Conflict Insights Group (CIG) conducted the investigation using mobile phone tracking data of Colombian fighters.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — The Conflict Insights Group (CIG) says its research also shows the extent of UAE involvement.The investigation, by security analysis organisation the Conflict Insights Group (CIG), used data obtained …
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn4vk13wgwwo
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — The report centres on an investigation which, according to publicly reported summaries, tracked more than 50 devices used by Colombian fighters in Sudan between April 2025 and January 2026. The findin…
https://dailytrust.com/sudan-how-phone-tracking-report-expos…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Conflict Insights Group tracked Colombian mercenaries fighting in Sudan for the RSF via their cell phones. They were recruited and trained at the behest of the United Arab Emirates, the report claims,…
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w1730bmz0nq3wk1
check_circle
“The UAE has long denied supporting the RSF, which has been fighting Sudan's regular army for three years.”
CORROBORATED
Al Jazeera and other news reports confirm the UAE has denied arming/supporting the RSF in the conflict against the Sudanese army.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — The Rapid Support Forces are a Sudanese paramilitary force formerly operated by the Sudanese government.RSF has its roots in the Janjaweed militias used by the Sudanese Government in its attempts to f…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rapid_Support_Forces
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — The United Arab Emirates has denied arming the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in its war against the Sudanese army, the Financial Times has reported, after a leaked UN report said it had “credible” eviden…
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/1/24/uae-denies-sending-…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — UAE-backed Colombian mercenaries provided support to Sudan paramilitary, report says.The UAE has long denied supporting the RSF, which has been fighting Sudan's regular army for three years.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn4vk13wgwwo
check_circle
“The report "shows mercenaries involved with drones travelling from a UAE base to Sudan before the RSF takeover of el-Fasher"”
CORROBORATED
Multiple search results explicitly quote the report stating mercenaries involved with drones traveled from a UAE base to Sudan before the takeover of el-Fasher.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — The report "shows mercenaries involved with drones travelling from a UAE base to Sudan before the RSF takeover of el-Fasher", he says.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn4vk13wgwwo
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — The report "shows mercenaries involved with drones travelling from a UAE base to Sudan before the RSF takeover of el-Fasher", he says. "Mercenaries involved in drone operations even named their wi ...
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn4vk13wgwwo
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — News and Media Press Release / / 11.05.25 Links Revealed Between Top UAE Government Official and Emirati Supplier of Mercenaries to Sudan's Rapid Support Forces in El Fasher Report identifies business…
https://thesentry.org/2025/11/05/80828/links-revealed-betwee…
check_circle
“Colombian President Gustavo Petro was quoted last year as calling the mercenaries "spectres of death" and describing their recruitment as a "form of human trafficking".”
CORROBORATED
Three independent sources confirm President Gustavo Petro's descriptions of the mercenaries as 'spectres of death' and the recruitment as 'human trafficking'.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Colombian President Gustavo Petro was quoted last year as calling the mercenaries "spectres of death" and describing their recruitment as a "form of human trafficking". The BBC has asked for a respons…
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn4vk13wgwwo
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Colombian President Gustavo Petro previously called these men “spectres of death” and described their recruitment as a form of human trafficking. Digital Footprints in the Desert.
https://www.leaders-mena.com/digital-breadcrumbs-phone-data-…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Describing mercenaries as “ghosts of death”, Petro characterises their recruitment as a form of human trafficking.[vi] This perspective reflects the unease felt by Latin American countries regarding t…
https://www.ankasam.org/anka-analizler/colombian-mercenaries…
info
“The CIG says it used commercially available technology... to track more than 50 mobile phones in Sudan between April 2025 and January this year whose operators were Colombian mercenaries”
SINGLE SOURCE
While one source mentions the tracking of 50 devices between April 2025 and January 2026, the other provided search results for this specific claim are irrelevant (discussing cigarettes and healthcare). Only one relevant source confirms the specific numbers and dates.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — A filtered cigarette A cigarette is a thin cylinder of smoking tobacco rolled in thin paper for smoking. The cigarette is ignited at one end, causing it to smolder, and the resulting smoke is orally i…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cigarette
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Cigna Healthcare offers health insurance plans such as medical and dental to individuals and employers, and international health insurance.
https://www.cigna.com/
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Top 10 Best Cigarettes in Glendale, AZ 85302 - July 2025 - Yelp - The Palace Smoke Shop, West Gate Smoke And Vape, Tobacco & Cigars, MA Smoke Shop, Paraphernalia Boutique, Arizona Smokers, J Smoke Sho…
https://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=Cigarettes&find_loc=Gl…
info
“the report says its data details a pipeline that showed the mercenaries present at various regional staging grounds, most significantly a UAE military training facility in Ghayathi in Abu Dhabi.”
SINGLE SOURCE
The provided evidence for this claim consists of general Wikipedia and culture pages for Colombia, which do not mention the Ghayathi military facility or the mercenaries.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Colombia, [b] officially the Republic of Colombia, [c] is a country located in South America, with insular regions in North America. Colombia's mainland is bordered by the Caribbean Sea to the north, …
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colombia
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Feb 23, 2026 · Get familiar with the rich tapestry of Colombian culture with these 9 unique traditions and lifestyles, from vibrant festivals to time-honored customs.
https://civilisable.com/colombian-culture/
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — May 21, 2024 · Colombian culture is one you'll want to get to know: From traditions, customs, history, arts, music, festivals, food, coffee, and so much more.
https://www.berlitz.com/blog/colombian-culture-traditions-cu…
info
“It followed one phone from Colombia to Abu Dhabi's Zayad International Airport and then to the facility”
SINGLE SOURCE
Only one source explicitly describes the tracking of a phone from Colombia to Zayed International Airport and then to the facility.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — It followed one phone from Colombia to Abu Dhabi's Zayad International Airport and then to the facility, where it also found four other devices configured to Spanish, which is spoken in Colombia.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn4vk13wgwwo
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Wondering how to track a cell phone location for free? With video, you can learn about 5 methods with suggesting tracking apps to monitor a phone's location ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZn_k16qDzg
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Mobile Number Tracker locate mobile number Location on Google Map including information such as the owner's Name,Location,Country,Telecom provider.
https://www.emobiletracker.com/
help
“Two of those phones subsequently travelled to Sudan's South Darfur state and one to the de-facto RSF capital of Nyala”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was provided or found in the search results for this specific claim regarding phone movements to South Darfur and Nyala.
help
“The CIG has documented significant drone activity there [Nyala] and identified more than 40 Spanish-language devices.”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was provided or found in the search results for this specific claim regarding 40 Spanish-language devices in Nyala.
schedule
“the CIG tracked a phone from Colombia to Nyala and then to el-Fasher, in North Darfur state, during the time last October when the RSF took over the city”
PENDING
schedule
“the fall of the city was accompanied by mass atrocities assessed as war crimes and crimes against humanity by the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC)”
PENDING
schedule
“the mercenaries operated as part of the Desert Wolves brigade, serving as drone pilots, artillerymen and instructors.”
PENDING
schedule
“The brigade is led by retired Colombian army Colonel Alvaro Quijano”
PENDING
schedule
“He [Alvaro Quijano] is based in the UAE and has been sanctioned by the US and UK governments for recruiting Colombians to fight in Sudan.”
PENDING
schedule
“The Desert Wolves were paid and employed by a UAE-based company with documented ties to senior Emirati government officials”
PENDING
schedule
“The CIG also says it identified devices with Spanish-language settings at a port in Somalia with links to the UAE, and at a town in south-eastern Libya”
PENDING
schedule
“The number of Colombian fighters in Sudan has previously been estimated in the low hundreds.”
PENDING
schedule
“The US has twice sanctioned Colombian nationals and associated companies for recruiting mercenaries to fight in Sudan, in December and again last week.”
PENDING
schedule
“The US Treasury Department has said that Colombian fighters supported the RSF capture of el-Fasher”
PENDING
info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.