An investigative report published by the Colombian newspaper “La Silla Vacia” confirmed the presence of nearly 300 former Colombian soldiers participating in the war in Sudan, some of whom arrived via Libya.
The report explained that these soldiers, some of whom were described as “being kidnapped,” were recruited through a Colombian security company under the disguise of contracts to protect oil infrastructure in the United Arab Emirates.
The report indicated that the journey of these soldiers began in the UAE, then they were flown to the city of Benghazi, where they stayed in facilities said to belong to the Libyan authorities, before being transported to Sudan across the desert. According to the report, the soldiers’ testimonies indicated that they were deceived and forced to fight with the Rapid Support Forces in Sudan.
The report said that some Colombian soldiers were ambushed on the Libyan-Sudanese border, which led to the death of three of them and the injury of others. It also cited testimonies confirming the presence of at least 40 soldiers who wished to return to Colombia, but feared revenge. It pointed out the involvement of the Colombian company “A4SI” in the recruitment of these soldiers, with reference to the role of retired Colonel Alvaro Quijano, who is residing in Dubai, in managing this process.
