Sudanese Air Force Downs U.A.E.-Chartered Plane Carrying Colombian Mercenaries near Nyala

Sudan's military says it has shot down a plane chartered by the United Arab Emirates carrying Colombian mercenaries, as it approached Nyala Airport in South Darfur — a key logistics hub held by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

The strike, reported by Sudanese state television and cited by Al Jazeera, occurred on August 6 and resulted in the deaths of at least 40 Colombian nationals. A Sudanese military source told AFP the aircraft was "bombed and completely destroyed" while attempting to land.

Nyala Airport has remained under RSF control since April 2023 and has reportedly served as a critical supply route for the group, which has been engaged in an armed conflict with the Sudanese Armed Forces for over a year.

The presence of Colombian fighters in Darfur has been known since late 2024 and was confirmed by United Nations experts. According to media investigations, many of the Colombians involved were ex-soldiers or former guerrilla fighters, previously recruited by the UAE for operations abroad, including in Yemen.

In response to the reported deaths, Colombian President Gustavo Petro has instructed the embassy in Egypt to verify the identities of the deceased and arrange for the repatriation of their remains. Sudan's government stated last December that Colombia’s Foreign Ministry had expressed regret over the involvement of some of its nationals in the ongoing war.

The civil war in Sudan, now entering its third year, has left tens of thousands dead, displaced 13 million people, and triggered a growing humanitarian crisis marked by severe food shortages and ongoing violence.