Yemeni Fighters Join UAE-Backed Rapid Support Forces in Sudan: Shocking Leaks Reveal Military Network

Sudanese media have revealed that Yemeni mercenaries are fighting alongside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which are backed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE), against the Sudanese army. Documents and images published by Port Sudan Today expose a covert regional military alliance that implicates the UAE and senior figures in South Sudan’s government in fueling the ongoing conflict.

According to the newspaper, the documents include Yemeni passports belonging to individuals from Al-Mahwit in northern Yemen and Shabwa in the south. These mercenaries reportedly arrived at Juba airport before being transported to Darfur via Aweil.

The report highlights the deployment of four Yemeni drone technicians, all carrying Yemeni passports, who were flown in to assist RSF operations. These experts were onboard a military aircraft — piloted by Kenyan and South Sudanese nationals — that was later destroyed at Nyala Airport.

South Sudan No Longer Neutral

The investigation shows that South Sudan has transitioned from being a neutral neighbor to an active player in a complex military supply network led by the UAE. The logistical route includes the delivery of Land Cruiser military vehicles from Kenya’s Mombasa port, through Uganda, and across the Nimule crossing into Wau and Aweil. From there, the cargo is delivered to Colonel Taj Al-Tijani, who oversees RSF field operations in Darfur and Kordofan.

Field reports indicate that around 400 military vehicles have reached Sudan through this network, with protection and coordination ensured by South Sudanese intelligence officials.

Sudan Cuts Ties with UAE Over "Aggression"

Amid growing tensions, the Sudanese National Security and Defense Council officially declared the UAE a "hostile state" on Tuesday and announced the severance of diplomatic relations. The council cited “aggression against Sudan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity” carried out over the past two years through RSF, which it labeled a terrorist militia.

Sudanese officials accused the UAE of escalating its support with advanced strategic weaponry and said RSF used these to strike oil and gas depots, Port Sudan airport and seaport, electricity stations, and hotels.

One of the most controversial incidents involved a Kenyan aircraft, previously detained in Wau after allegedly trying to disguise itself with Red Cross insignia. It was later released and resumed its mission before being shot down in Nyala. The crash killed both pilots — one of them the son of South Sudan’s security minister — and the Yemeni mercenaries onboard.