A United Nations fact-finding mission has warned that foreign weapons, military technology, fighters and logistical networks are helping to prolong Sudan’s devastating war and increasing the ability of both sides to attack civilians with drones.
The conflict began in April 2023 following a power struggle between Sudan’s military, known as the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). More than 14 million people have been displaced, making the war one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.
Foreign involvement
The UN investigation found reasonable grounds to believe that a network involving individuals and entities in countries including the United Arab Emirates, Chad, Libya and Somalia supplied the RSF with weapons, military equipment, training, logistics and foreign personnel.
Investigators also documented the involvement of up to 2,000 former Colombian military contractors, who reportedly operated combat drones, artillery and other advanced weapons alongside RSF forces in Darfur and Kordofan. Colombia said it opposes mercenarism and is taking steps regarding its nationals involved in foreign conflicts.
The UAE has denied providing military, financial or political support to the RSF, while Chad has rejected allegations that it helped transfer weapons and maintained that it is neutral in the conflict.
Civilians increasingly targeted
The UN said more than 1,000 people were killed in drone strikes during the first five months of 2026. Both the RSF and Sudanese military have been accused of drone attacks that hit civilian areas and essential infrastructure.
Among the incidents investigated was an army strike on Ad-Da’ein Teaching Hospital in East Darfur, which investigators said killed at least 70 people. Repeated RSF drone attacks also damaged electricity and fuel facilities in El Obeid, disrupting water supplies, healthcare and transportation.
The UN said some of the attacks could amount to war crimes.
UN calls for stronger action
The fact-finding mission has urged countries to stop illicit weapons and military supply networks supporting the conflict. It also called on the UN Security Council to extend the existing arms embargo beyond Darfur to the whole of Sudan.
The latest findings highlight how foreign involvement and increasingly sophisticated drone warfare are making Sudan’s conflict more dangerous for civilians and harder to resolve.
