A United Nations report, backed by recent security investigations, has uncovered what appears to be a sophisticated logistics network moving Colombian mercenaries and military equipment into Sudan, as the country’s civil war enters its fourth year.
According to the UN Panel of Experts on Libya, the Subul al-Salam Battalion played a key role in facilitating the transfer of foreign fighters and weapons to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The group is linked to General Khalifa Haftar’s forces and is based in the strategic Libyan town of Kufra, near the borders of Sudan, Chad, and Egypt. The findings cover monitoring activity between October 2024 and February 2026.
Regional staging hubs and cross-border support
The report indicates that the Subul al-Salam Battalion provided the RSF with a rear base about 75 kilometres southwest of Kufra. This location, along with a nearby airbase, was reportedly used as a transit point for Colombian fighters and for modifying imported military vehicles.
In June 2025, the group is said to have deployed units to escort fighters and deliver fuel supplies, support that helped the RSF advance toward the Uwaynat border triangle. Sudan’s military has since withdrawn from the area, accusing Haftar-linked forces of backing the offensive. Haftar, however, has denied any involvement.
UN experts noted that these activities have significantly “weakened border security in southern Libya.”
Alleged foreign pipeline and UAE link
Investigations by the Conflict Insights Group (CIG) also point to a wider recruitment and transit network involving Colombian fighters. Using mobile phone data, researchers traced a route linking recruits from Colombia to a UAE military facility in Ghayathi, before onward movement to RSF-controlled areas.
The analysis reportedly tracked Spanish-language devices moving from Abu Dhabi to RSF strongholds such as Nyala in Sudan. CIG director Justin Lynch said the findings represent a significant breakthrough, stating: “This is the first research where we can prove UAE involvement with certainty.”
The United Arab Emirates has strongly rejected the allegations, describing them as “false and unfounded.”
In response to the reported supply chain, Sudan’s military carried out airstrikes in November targeting suspected convoys carrying fighters and military equipment inside Libya.
Colombian mercenaries and battlefield roles
The report also highlights the involvement of a unit known as the “Desert Wolves” brigade, made up largely of Colombian fighters. These individuals were reportedly deployed as drone operators, artillery specialists, and trainers, with some accused of participating in the training of child soldiers.
Digital evidence suggests the group was active during the RSF takeover of El-Fasher in late 2025. Investigators identified devices in the city connecting to Wi-Fi networks labelled “ATACADOR,” “DRONES,” and “LOBOS DEL DESIERTO.”
The UN report states that “the scale of atrocities and siege in El-Fasher would not have been possible without the drone operations provided by mercenaries.”
Leadership and sanctions
The “Desert Wolves” are reportedly led by retired Colombian Colonel Álvaro Quijano, who is based in the United Arab Emirates. Both the United States and the United Kingdom have imposed sanctions on Quijano and related entities.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro has also condemned the recruitment of Colombian nationals, previously describing the fighters as “spectres of death” and likening the recruitment process to human trafficking.
While the U.S. Treasury has acknowledged the presence of Colombian fighters supporting the RSF, it has not established a direct legal link to the UAE government.
Worsening humanitarian crisis
The conflict in Sudan has now become one of the world’s most severe humanitarian emergencies, with at least 59,000 people reported killed. The RSF’s 18-month siege of El-Fasher reportedly cut off food, medical aid, and essential supplies to civilians.
The UN Human Rights Office has described the violence in the city as “a wave of intense brutality” and warned that the scale of abuses may amount to war crimes and possible crimes against humanity.
Both the RSF and the Subul al-Salam Battalion have denied key allegations, while Sudan’s military says it has submitted evidence of foreign recruitment activities to the UN Security Council. Neither the RSF nor the Libyan battalion immediately responded to requests for comment.
Wider geopolitical concerns
Colombia has confirmed the deaths of at least 40 of its nationals in Sudan, further highlighting the international dimension of the conflict.
Analysts say the involvement of foreign fighters and external networks is fuelling the war and prolonging instability. As global attention grows, pressure is mounting on international actors to disrupt supply chains, enforce sanctions, and address the worsening famine affecting millions across Sudan.