War in Sudan: Genocidal Crimes and Foreign Support

The latest report on the war in Sudan by the United Nations (UN), which was presented to the UN Human Rights Council on Friday, is twenty pages long. Perhaps most importantly, “the use of technological advances, particularly expanded drone capabilities, has changed the nature of the conflict, expanding the geographical reach of hostilities and prolonging fighting with no apparent respite.”

Between January and May of this year alone, more than 1,000 civilians fell victim to drone attacks. The UN investigators also documented “attacks on health facilities, schools, places of worship, markets, camps for internally displaced persons, civil gatherings such as weddings and funerals, and energy infrastructure.”

The RSF militia shot at a kindergarten in the town of Kalogi in South Kordofan with a drone in December 2025. But Sudan's army also regularly attacks civilian facilities with drones, including hospitals, markets and water points where women and children bottled water. “Women and children have repeatedly been among those killed and injured in drone strikes,” UN investigators said. These are war crimes committed by both sides.

The UN investigators also prove that both warring parties receive foreign support. The UN Human Rights Council has repeatedly called on all states to respect the arms embargo for the Sudanese region of Darfur that has been in effect since 2004. Darfur is currently almost entirely under RSF control.

The RSF nevertheless received weapons and advanced military technology as well as “foreign fighters, funding and other forms of support” from “external networks.” These were used in the attack on the city of El Fasher in October 2025. The UN Human Rights Council had identified “characteristics of genocide”.

In addition to the United Arab Emirates, Chad, Libya and the Puntland region in Somalia are also named as external actors supporting the RSF. The latter function as transit areas; Individuals and networks in the Emirates use this to specifically supply weapon systems to the RSF.

In addition, up to 2,000 mercenaries from Colombia were hired through recruiting companies registered in the Emirates, according to the report. These would operate modern weapon systems and train RSF fighters. Most Colombians were flown in through the airports in Bosaso in Somaliland and Kufra in Libya. A Colombian unit known as the “Desert Wolves” was involved in the storming of the town of El Fasher in Darfur. Fighters from South Sudan, Chad and Ethiopia were also involved in the attack, UN investigators said.

“The nature, extent and duration of external support raise serious concerns about compliance with the Darfur arms embargo,” the report said. He also points out that under international law, “aiding and abetting, as well as knowingly providing practical assistance, encouragement or moral support” also contribute to the crimes.

The UN investigators have informed the above-mentioned governments about this complicity in war crimes. Chad and Colombia have pledged to investigate companies and individuals in their territories. Libya, Somaliland, South Sudan and Ethiopia did not respond to the UN investigation. The Emirates continued to deny all allegations, insisting that the allegations were based on "unconfirmed or unreliable information."

The UN report is the basis for a discussion in the Security Council next weekend. The arms embargo for Darfur expires on Saturday and would have to be extended. Against the backdrop of the war, many countries and the UN are demanding that the embargo be extended to the entire territory of Sudan.