Sudanese air force destroys UAE plane carrying mercenaries in Darfur

The Sudanese Air Force has destroyed a plane allegedly sent by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) transporting Colombian mercenaries, killing at least 40 people, according to state television reports on Wednesday.

The aircraft was reportedly struck and "completely destroyed" as it landed at Nyala airport in South Darfur — a site currently under the control of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). A military source, speaking to AFP on condition of anonymity, confirmed the operation.

Nyala airport has been a repeated target of Sudanese airstrikes in recent months. The Sudanese army, led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, has been locked in a brutal conflict with the RSF, commanded by his former deputy, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, since April 2023.

In June, three eyewitnesses reported that a cargo plane had been bombed shortly after landing at the same airport, highlighting the strategic importance of the site in the ongoing war.

As of now, there has been no official response from the Sudanese army, the RSF, or the UAE.

The Sudanese military has long accused the UAE of covertly supporting the RSF with advanced weaponry, including drones, allegedly funneled through Nyala airport. Abu Dhabi has consistently denied any involvement, despite multiple reports from UN experts and international organizations suggesting otherwise.

Sudan’s civil war, like many others, has been further fueled by foreign interference. The destruction of the aircraft — and the reported deaths of dozens of foreign fighters — underscores the growing international dimension of the conflict and the dangerous role played by external backers.