美联社独家采访了苏丹战争中的前儿童兵，他们披露遭快速支援部队（RSF）强制征兵并由哥伦比亚雇佣兵训练的经历。[1]根据苏丹儿童福利国家委员会秘书长的数据，数万名年仅8岁的儿童在这场冲突中被征募参战。[1]这些被征募的儿童被强行操控反飞机枪、火炮等重型武器进行战斗，并在拒绝执行命令时遭受酷刑。[1]
一名17岁的男孩证实自己在15岁时被RSF强征，随后被锁定在皮卡车上的防空枪上参加战斗，这种状况持续了约18个月。[1]另一名男孩称15岁时被关押在al-Konan营地，由哥伦比亚人训练重炮和无人机操作，因拒绝开火而遭电棒殴打至昏迷。[1]这些前儿童兵中，六人指控哥伦比亚雇佣兵参与了他们的训练。[1]一名18岁的同伴因试图逃脱而被RSF枪杀。[1]
人权观察组织和冲突洞察小组的记录证实了哥伦比亚雇佣兵在苏丹达尔富尔地区的活动，包括2025年10月RSF占领法希尔期间的行动。[2]一名2025年在达尔富尔参战的哥伦比亚雇佣兵称，数百名哥伦比亚人在RSF前线作战，他见过年仅13岁的儿童与该武装组织一起战斗。[2]一名前RSF战士称2024年7月曾在喀土穆看到哥伦比亚人训练儿童。[2]
人权组织指责阿联酋通过关联承包商招募哥伦比亚雇佣兵，以支持RSF的军事行动。[1]阿联酋随后否认了武装RSF和招募外国战斗人员的指控，声称运往RSF的物资属于人道主义援助。[1]
Dozens of former child soldiers in Sudan have described being forcibly conscripted by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and trained by Colombian mercenaries to operate anti-aircraft guns, artillery, and drones during the country's ongoing conflict.[1][2] According to Sudan's National Committee for Child Welfare, tens of thousands of children as young as eight years old have been recruited into the war.[1]
In interviews conducted by the Associated Press, multiple former child soldiers detailed their experiences of abuse and coercion. A 17-year-old recalled being forcibly recruited at age 15 and locked onto an anti-aircraft gun mounted on a pickup truck for approximately 18 months of combat operations.[1] Another boy reported being detained at the al-Konan camp, where Colombian trainers instructed him on heavy artillery and drone operations; when he refused to fire weapons, he was beaten with electric batons until losing consciousness.[1] A third former soldier, aged 18, was killed by the RSF while attempting to escape.[1]
Six former child soldiers have accused Colombian mercenaries of training them, with two explicitly stating they received instruction from Colombians.[1] One Colombian mercenary active in Darfur in 2025 confirmed that hundreds of Colombian personnel were fighting on the RSF front lines and stated he had witnessed children as young as 13 years old participating in combat alongside the RSF.[1][2] A former RSF fighter reported seeing Colombians training children in Khartoum in July 2024.[2]
Human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch and the Conflict Observatory, have documented the presence of Colombian mercenaries operating with the RSF in Darfur, including during the RSF's capture of Al-Fashir in October 2025.[1][2] Approximately 10,000 Colombians are believed to be participating in foreign conflicts in Somalia, Ukraine, and Sudan.[1] The United Arab Emirates has denied allegations that it armed the RSF or recruited foreign fighters, characterizing shipments to the RSF as humanitarian aid.[1][2]