MWE Correspondent
Sudan has made a direct appeal to Colombia, calling on the South American nation to immediately halt the recruitment and deployment of mercenaries into its war-torn territory.
Prime Minister Kamil Idris, in a letter published by the state news agency SUNA and later acknowledged by Colombian President Gustavo Petro, described the request as a plea for solidarity and a step toward ending Sudan’s protracted civil conflict.
“In the spirit of creativity, solidarity, and commitment to peace, this call comes to stand firmly with us to end the siege of El Fasher and stop the recruitment and deployment of mercenaries to our lands,” Idris wrote.
The plea comes as Sudan’s army continues a bloody standoff with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary faction that has fought the military for control of the country since 2023. El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, has become a symbolic and strategic stronghold in the conflict, and its residents face dire shortages under a tightening siege.
Sudanese officials allege that hundreds of Colombian fighters have been funneled into the conflict, reportedly through networks financed by foreign backers. Sudan has repeatedly accused the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of sponsoring such operations, a charge the UAE firmly denies. The Sudanese government claims to have presented “irrefutable evidence” to the United Nations Security Council.
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Tensions escalated earlier this month when Sudanese forces announced they had destroyed an aircraft near Nyala Airport in Darfur that was allegedly carrying Colombian mercenaries and weapons to RSF fighters. Reports suggested dozens of foreign combatants were killed in the strike.
President Petro, acknowledging Idris’s appeal, urged his countrymen to reject involvement in foreign wars, calling on lawmakers in Bogotá to criminalize mercenary activities. “Fight for your homeland—do not die in other people’s conflicts,” he said in remarks carried by Colombian media.
For Idris, the request to Colombia was not only a diplomatic note but also a moral appeal. By invoking the shared cultural spirit of Spanish-speaking communities—through poetry, art, and history—he framed the appeal as a plea for peace rooted in human connection, not just politics.
