A recent investigation revealed that Colombian former military mercenaries, known as the “Desert Wolves,” have been recruited to fight for Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
According to the report of Columbian news website La Silla Vacía, between 350 and 380 former Colombian soldiers have been recruited by retired Colombian Colonel Álvaro Quijano and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) based security firm Global Security Service Group (GSSG), which finances and facilitates their transport to Sudan.
The former Colombian soldiers were misled into joining the fight, as they were promised salaries of up to $3,000 per month, plus bonuses, under contracts that initially stated they would provide security for oil facilities. Instead, they were sent into active combat zones, working for the RSF, a paramilitary group accused of war crimes.
To avoid detection, mercenaries were transported through various routes, including stops in Iraq, Libya, Chad, Ethiopia, and Somalia. Once in Sudan, they were taken to Nyala, a key RSF-controlled base, where they received weapons and were deployed to fight in the heavily contested city of Al Fashir, Darfur.
Footage on social media shows a convoy of pickup trucks transporting Colombian mercenaries across the Sahara, through Chad’s border, to join the RSF.
“Desert Wolves”: Colombian Mercenaries Fuel Sudan’s War with UAE Backing
The Colombian independent investigative platform “La Silla Vacía” published a revealing report by journalist Santiago Rodríguez Álvarez titled “Desert Wolves: How Colombian Mercenaries Operate in Sudan”.… pic.twitter.com/EDPvWyLh2C
— Sudanese Echo (@SudaneseEcho) March 4, 2025
Another video shows the Colombian mercenaries operating in Al-Fashir. The footage reveals the group using a 120mm M75 mortar with M62P10 HE mortar bombs, which are produced in Serbia.
#Sudan 🇸🇩: New video shows mercenary group “Desert Wolves” from #Colombia 🇨🇴 operating under “Rapid Support Forces” (#RSF) in Al-Fashir.
The group is seemingly using a 120mm M75 mortar with M62P10 HE mortar bombs; which are produced in #Serbia 🇷🇸 / Yugoslavia. pic.twitter.com/uaSBod45JE
— War Noir (@war_noir) March 4, 2025
La Silla Vacía reported that clashes in Al-Fashir, Darfur in October resulted in at least three Colombian fighters killed, with several others injured in drone strikes. Sudanese military forces reported killing 22 Colombian mercenaries and four Emiratis, though these numbers are disputed.
President Gustavo Petro condemned the alleged recruitment of former Colombian soldiers to fight in Sudan and called for a ban on such practices.
The Colombian government has explored ways to repatriate these soldiers, but efforts have been complicated by the nature of their contracts and the conflict itself. The bodies of fallen mercenaries have yet to be returned.
