El FASHER – The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) said on Wednesday it killed several foreign mercenaries fighting alongside the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) during clashes in El Fasher, North Darfur, including Colombians and Ukrainians.
In a statement, the Sixth Infantry Division announced it had carried out a “well-coordinated ambush” that targeted groups of fighters who, according to the army, had infiltrated residential neighborhoods to prepare attacks on tall buildings in the city. The statement described some of the foreigners as drone and air defense specialists, while others were snipers preparing to position themselves inside El Fasher.
The army said additional RSF members, including senior commanders, were also killed east of the city in the Karkar area. It described the ambush as the “250th victory” by SAF’s forces since the outbreak of war. Sudans Post could not independently verify the army’s claims regarding the alleged killing of Colombian and Ukrainians mercenaries.
The military further accused the RSF of launching heavy artillery fire in an attempt to retrieve the bodies of the foreign fighters, saying the group failed to do so. According to the statement, the shelling hit a displacement center in El Fasher, killing and wounding civilians, including women, children and elderly people. Several of the injured were transferred for medical treatment.
Darfur de facto governor Minni Arko Minnawi condemned the reported shelling, calling it “a new crime against civilians.” In a video published on his official Facebook Page, Minnawi accused the RSF of continuing “scorched-earth tactics” and “genocidal crimes” in Darfur, adding that they group does not distinguish between civilians and fighters. He also posted footage that he said showed the aftermath of the attack on the shelter.
The RSF has not responded to the allegations. Attempts to reach its representatives for comment were unsuccessful.
Reports of Colombian mercenaries fighting in Sudan have drawn growing international attention. According to testimonies and media investigations, private recruiters lured former soldiers and paramilitary members from Colombia to join the RSF, with contracts reportedly facilitated by intermediaries in United Arab Emirates (UAE). The fighters are believed to be involved in drone operations, sniper roles and training RSF units.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro earlier this year publicly acknowledged the involvement of Colombian citizens in the Sudan war and said mercenary activity must be banned. Foreign Minister Luis Gilberto Murillo issued a formal apology on behalf of his government, expressing regret over the participation of Colombians in the conflict and pledging to tighten oversight to prevent recruitment. Despite these statements, reports continue to surface linking Colombian fighters to frontlines in Darfur, adding an international layer to a war that has already killed thousands and displaced millions.
Analysts warn that the participation of foreign fighters complicates the conflict further and risk escalating the violence, particularly in El Fasher, a city that has become a focal point in the war. For many residents, the alleged use of Colombian and other foreign mercenaries reinforces fears that Sudan’s war is no longer a purely domestic battle, but one increasing shaped by external actors.
