Sudan war: UAE denies supporting RSF and Colombian recruits

What Happened

In early 2026, two high-ranking Rapid Support Forces (RSF) commanders—Al-Nour Ahmed Adam (Al-Nour Al-Qubba) and Ali Rizq Allah (Al-Savannah)—defected to the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), marking significant fissures within the RSF. SAF leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan has offered amnesty to RSF fighters who defect, though Human Rights Watch (HRW) could not verify its application to these individuals. HRW reviewed videos showing the defectors during the RSF’s October 2025 siege of El Fasher, where the international NGO documented war crimes. Concurrently, HRW published a report detailing the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) role in facilitating the deployment of hundreds of Colombian mercenaries to fight alongside the RSF, allegedly via the Abu Dhabi-based Global Security Services Group (GSSG). HRW geolocated social media posts showing Colombian contractors training at UAE military sites before deploying to Sudan. The UAE denied the allegations, with Assistant Minister for Security and Military Affairs Salem Aljaberi calling them baseless. The defections and HRW report come amid allegations—from U.S. intelligence sources and Amnesty International—that the UAE has supplied the RSF with drones, arms, and ammunition, which the UAE rejects. Conflict monitors at ACLED interpret the defections as evidence of cracks in RSF alliances and intra-coalition competition over war spoils.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The defections expose internal fractures within the RSF, potentially shifting battlefield dynamics in a conflict that has displaced 12 million and triggered famine. HRW’s report on Colombian mercenaries underscores the deepening foreign dimension of the war, with the UAE’s alleged role challenging arms embargoes and fueling atrocity crimes. The findings intensify pressure on the international community to address external enablers and could accelerate accountability efforts, including ICC scrutiny of the El Fasher siege. For Sudan, the defections and foreign involvement may prolong the war by complicating RSF cohesion and incentivizing SAF offensives.

Watch For

Monitor for further RSF defections and any resulting shifts in control of El Fasher or other Darfur areas. Track diplomatic responses to the HRW report—potential UN Security Council briefings on Sudan where UAE support may be raised, and any moves by the ICC or other bodies to investigate war crimes in the October 2025 siege. Watch for UAE counter-narratives and possible legal challenges, as well as the impact of the revelations on the Jeddah peace process.