Colombian veterans in Sudan via Libya, report says

Nearly 300 former Colombian soldiers are currently involved in Sudan’s conflict, with many entering through Libya, according to an investigation published by Colombian newspaper La Silla Vacia.

The investigation found that these veterans were initially recruited by a Colombian security company through contracts advertised as oil infrastructure protection work in the United Arab Emirates.

The soldiers’ journey reportedly began in the UAE, followed by flights to Benghazi, Libya, where they stayed in facilities reportedly under Libyan authority control before desert transport to Sudan.

According to the report, multiple testimonies indicate the soldiers were misled about their final destination and subsequently found themselves fighting with the Rapid Support Forces in Sudan. Three Colombian veterans died and others were wounded in an ambush near the Libyan-Sudanese border, the investigation revealed.

The report identified the Colombian company A4SI as involved in the recruitment process, with retired Colonel Alvaro Quijano, currently based in Dubai, allegedly managing the operation. At least 40 soldiers have expressed wishes to return to Colombia but reportedly remain concerned about potential reprisals.

The Sudanese army’s joint force of armed fighting movements has released documentation on social media showing identification papers of Colombian nationals. According to the force’s spokesman, these individuals were killed in the border triangle area with Chad and Libya while allegedly attempting to deliver supplies to Rapid Support Forces in North Darfur State.

The documents presented indicate that the Colombian personnel arrived from the United Arab Emirates, reportedly carrying weapons and ammunition intended for the Rapid Support Forces.