A damning new report from Human Rights Watch (HRW) , published on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, places the United Arab Emirates (UAE) at the center of serious accusations. The NGO asserts that hundreds of Colombian mercenaries have been recruited to fight alongside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), the paramilitary militia implicated in war crimes in Sudan.

A recruitment network linked to the Emirati government

According to the 83-page investigation conducted by HRW, the recruitment of these South American fighters began in 2024.

1. The recruiter: The private company Global Security Services Group (GSSG) , based in Abu Dhabi.
2. The political connection: The NGO emphasizes that this company is directly "linked to the Emirati ruling family".
3. The transit: The recruits reportedly transited through the Emirati military bases of Ghiyathi and Al Wathba before being sent to the Sudanese front to support General Hemeti's troops.

Several testimonies from former mercenaries confirm this modus operandi. One of them explains that he was transported to these secret bases without going through official immigration controls. Another claims to have trained FSR recruits in Darfur, near the Nyala base, mentioning the presence of "young children" among the troops.

Active participation in the fighting and accusations of genocide

The involvement of these mercenaries was not limited to training. HRW claims to have authenticated video evidence attesting to their direct participation in the fighting, notably during the fall of El-Fasher in October 2025 .

The context of El-Fasher: This crucial battle resulted in massacres, sexual violence, and forced displacement of populations. A United Nations commission of inquiry described these atrocities as having "the characteristics of genocide."

Diametrically opposed versions

Human Rights Watch position	Position of the United Arab Emirates
The evidence demonstrates "substantial" support from the UAE, bolstering the FSR's ability to commit war crimes.	Abu Dhabi firmly denies any military support to paramilitaries.
Transit through official military bases and involvement of a company linked to the government.	The Emirates maintain that their intervention in Sudan is strictly limited to humanitarian aid.