Report on Mercenary Involvement in Sudan Conflict and Implications for Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: Escalating Conflict and the Role of Mercenaries

Emerging evidence indicates significant involvement of foreign mercenaries in the ongoing war in Sudan, a development that severely undermines international peace and security efforts. Reports allege that Colombian nationals are participating in the conflict, specifically within the ranks of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). This situation presents a direct challenge to the achievement of several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), most notably SDG 16, which aims to promote peaceful and inclusive societies.

Grave Violations of Child Rights and Labour Standards: A Breach of SDG 8.7 and SDG 16.2

The most alarming allegations concern the exploitation of children, a direct contravention of international human rights law and specific SDG targets.

• Recruitment of Child Soldiers: Investigative reports allege that Colombian mercenaries are providing military training to children, some as young as ten years old, at RSF camps near Nyala, Darfur. This practice is a severe violation of SDG 16.2 (End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children) and SDG 8.7 (Take immediate and effective measures to… secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labour, including recruitment and use of child soldiers).
• Nature of Training: The children are reportedly being trained to use sophisticated weaponry, including assault rifles, machine guns, and rocket-propelled grenades, preparing them for immediate deployment to front-line combat where mortality rates are high.

Threats to Peace and Justice: Undermining SDG 16

The presence and actions of mercenaries exacerbate the violence and instability in Sudan, representing a significant setback for SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions).

1. Increased Violence and Fatalities: The Sudanese army has reported killing several Colombian mercenaries, including an RSF commander, during the siege of El Fasher. A separate incident in Nyala reportedly resulted in the deaths of at least 40 mercenaries. These events contribute to the cycle of violence, directly opposing SDG 16.1 (Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates).
2. Human Trafficking and Illicit Flows: Colombian President Gustavo Petro has characterized the recruitment of his countrymen as a form of human trafficking, where men are treated as “commodities for killing.” This aligns with concerns under SDG 16.4 regarding the reduction of illicit financial and arms flows and combating transnational organized crime.

International Dimensions and Challenges to Global Partnerships (SDG 17)

The conflict’s international scope highlights a failure in global partnerships for peace, a core tenet of SDG 17.

• Alleged Foreign Sponsorship: Both the Sudanese army and Sudan’s Foreign Ministry have accused the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of financing and sponsoring the Colombian mercenaries, including providing transport via a UAE airplane. While the UAE denies these claims, the allegations point to a complex network of transnational support that fuels the conflict.
• Recruitment Network: Reports from La Silla Vacía detail a recruitment operation where former Colombian soldiers were flown to the UAE and Libya before being transported to Darfur, promising monthly salaries between US$2,600 and US$3,400. This organized, cross-border operation undermines regional stability and the rule of law.

Official Responses and Calls for Accountability

In response to the allegations, several official actions have been initiated to address the crisis and uphold international norms.

• Colombian Government Action: President Gustavo Petro has ordered a formal investigation into the reports, called for urgent legislation to ban mercenary activities, and instructed Colombia’s ambassador in Egypt to verify the number of casualties.
• Formal Apology: The Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has previously acknowledged the presence of its nationals as mercenaries in Darfur and issued a formal apology to the Sudanese government.
• United Nations Verification: A United Nations panel of experts has deemed the allegations of Colombian mercenary involvement in Sudan to be “credible,” lending international weight to the reports and underscoring the need for accountability mechanisms to enforce SDG 16.

SDGs Addressed in the Article

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

• The article’s central theme is the conflict in Sudan, involving the national army, a militia (RSF), and foreign mercenaries. This directly relates to SDG 16’s aim to “promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development.” The text details violence, civilian massacres, the breakdown of law, and the involvement of non-state actors, all of which are challenges to peace and justice. Furthermore, the recruitment of child soldiers is a grave violation of human rights and a direct concern of this goal. The response from the Colombian President, calling for legislation to ban mercenaries, also points to the goal’s focus on building effective and accountable institutions.

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

• This SDG is relevant due to the explicit mention of human trafficking and child labor. The Colombian President describes the recruitment of mercenaries as “a form of human trafficking, turning men into commodities for killing.” The article also details the “training of child soldiers,” which is one of the worst forms of child labor and a specific focus of Target 8.7.

Specific SDG Targets Identified

1. SDG Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.

   The article extensively discusses the violence in the “Sudan war,” including “civilian massacres,” the “prolonged siege of the Darfur city of El Fasher,” and the killing of combatants. It specifically mentions that the Sudanese army “killed several of the Colombians” and that “at least 40 Colombian mercenaries were killed.” This directly aligns with the target of reducing violence and death rates.

2. SDG Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children.

   This target is directly addressed by the reports that Colombian mercenaries are “training child soldiers in Darfur.” The article highlights that this training is given to “large numbers of children, including some as young as 10,” who are then sent to the “battlefront” where they are “quickly killed.” This constitutes child exploitation, abuse, and violence against children.

3. SDG Target 8.7: Take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labour, end modern slavery and human trafficking and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labour, including recruitment and use of child soldiers…

   The article connects to this target in two ways. Firstly, the Colombian President explicitly labels the mercenary operation as “a form of human trafficking.” Secondly, the core allegation of “training child soldiers” and their subsequent use in combat is a direct reference to “the worst forms of child labour, including recruitment and use of child soldiers.”

4. SDG Target 16.4: By 2030, significantly reduce illicit financial and arms flows…

   The article points to illicit flows through reports of an “illegal weapons convoy in northern Darfur” and the destruction of “an airplane landing with weapons and other supplies.” Furthermore, it alleges that the mercenaries are “sponsored and financed by the United Arab Emirates,” which, if proven, represents a significant illicit financial flow fueling the conflict.

5. SDG Target 16.a: Strengthen relevant national institutions… to prevent violence and combat… crime.

   This target is reflected in the actions of the Colombian government. President Petro “ordered an investigation” into the reports and “called for the urgent passage of legislation to ban mercenaries.” These actions represent an effort to strengthen national institutions to combat the crime of mercenary recruitment and prevent further violence.

Indicators for Measuring Progress

The article implies several indicators that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets:

• Number of conflict-related deaths (Indicator for Target 16.1)

  The article provides specific figures, such as “40 Colombian mercenaries were killed” and “several of the Colombians” were killed. Tracking these numbers provides a direct measure of the level of violence.

• Number of children recruited and used in armed conflict (Indicator for Targets 16.2 and 8.7)

  The report of “large numbers of children, including some as young as 10” being trained as soldiers is a qualitative indicator. A quantitative measure would involve counting the number of children involved, which is a standard indicator for monitoring the worst forms of child labor.

• Number of victims of human trafficking (Indicator for Target 8.7)

  The article mentions “an estimated 80 Colombian mercenaries” and a previous report of “at least 300 Colombian mercenaries.” As the President framed this as human trafficking, these figures serve as a proxy indicator for the number of people trafficked into the conflict.

• Proportion of seized arms and evidence of illicit financial flows (Indicator for Target 16.4)

  The mention of an “illegal weapons convoy” being stopped and an “airplane landing with weapons” being destroyed are incidents that can be tracked. The allegations of the UAE “sponsoring and financing” the mercenaries, if investigated, could provide data on illicit financial flows.

• Progress in the adoption of national legislation (Indicator for Target 16.a)

  The call by President Petro for “the urgent passage of legislation to ban mercenaries” is a clear starting point. The progress, passage, and implementation of this law would be a direct indicator of Colombia strengthening its national institutions to combat this crime.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis

Source: theglobeandmail.com