UN report reveals expanding foreign involvement fuels Sudan’s war

The report by the UN Independent International Fact‑Finding Mission for Sudan says this external assistance is boosting the warring factions’ military capabilities and enabling ever more sophisticated operations, with devastating effects on civilians.

It documents how transnational networks based in multiple countries recruit, train and deploy foreign fighters to bolster the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). These entities also facilitate the transfer of weapons, ammunition, military technology and logistical support.

The report also concludes there are reasonable grounds to believe that the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) have used foreign‑supplied drones in operations that harmed civilians and civilian objects.

Civilians bear the brunt

The mission highlighted the strict international legal obligations of states linked to these supply chains. They must exercise due diligence, investigate and halt illicit mercenary and supply networks operating from or through their territories, prevent violations, and enforce the UN arms embargo.

“The consequences of this external support are being felt most acutely by civilians,” said Mohamad Chande Othman, Chair of the Fact‑Finding Mission.

This external support has not increased protection for civilians. Instead, civilians are paying the price through attacks on homes, hospitals, schools, markets and places of refuge.

The mission documented the deployment of up to 2,000 former Colombian military contractors who directly operated combat drones, artillery and advanced weapons alongside RSF units in Darfur and Kordofan.

The report also concluded that there are reasonable grounds to believe that private entities, logistical facilitators, and recruiters based in countries such as Colombia and the United Arab Emirates have used transit points in Chad, southeastern Libya, and the Somali city of Bosaso to ferry personnel, training, weapons and logistical supplies to the RSF in Sudan.

Drone capabilities expanded

Mona Rishmawi, an expert member of the mission, said the team had identified a transnational chain of networks spanning several countries that supplied the RSF with foreign personnel, training, weapons and logistics.

She said this support fed into RSF operations in Zamzam camp and later during the takeover of El‑Fasher, where the mission documented grave human‑rights and international‑humanitarian‑law violations and international crimes, including conduct displaying hallmarks of genocide.

The report also found that foreign suppliers have substantially enhanced the drone capabilities of both the RSF and the SAF, enabling them to strike far beyond front lines.

Translate warnings into action

The investigators called on states to enforce the arms embargo on Darfur, halt military transfers where there is a substantial risk of contributing to serious violations, investigate individuals and entities involved in illicit support networks, and strengthen accountability measures.

They also urged the Security Council to extend the arms embargo to cover all of Sudan.

Mr. Osman recalled that the international community has received repeated warnings about the violations in Sudan.

Those warnings must now translate into action,” he said.

Protecting civilians in Sudan requires taking action not only against those waging this war, but also against the individuals, entities, and networks that enable its continuation.

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