Khartoum, August 26( Darfur 24)
Local sources and eyewitnesses confirmed to Darfur 24 that the Rapid Support Forces RSF have brought in foreign soldiers and experts to fight in its ranks and train its members in the use of drones and jamming systems.
Eyewitnesses and local sources, who preferred to remain anonymous for security reasons, told Darfur 24 that at least 300 South Sudanese fighters were present in the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) ranks, residing in government-run housing in Nyala over the past three months.
The eyewitnesses added that they “saw these soldiers wearing RSF uniforms, riding motorcycles at the city’s markets and streets. Others, including wounded soldiers, were receiving treatment at a medical complex in the city center.”
They indicated that some of these South Sudanese soldiers were part of the Sudanese army before secession in 2011 and specialize in artillery. They are the most numerous foreigners, followed by soldiers from Chad, the Central African Republic, and Libya, some of whom are drone experts.
Eyewitnesses and four other sources, including a RSF soldier, also told Darfur 24 that Colombian experts and fighters were training some RSF commanders on how to operate and use drones, jamming devices, and monitoring air defense systems.
Sources confirmed that the Colombian experts were tasked with protecting the airspace in Nyala and its international airport with jamming and warning devices.
The sources explained that the Colombian experts and fighters had set up residential tents east of the city, estimated at more than 200 people. They also included a significant number of Somalis trained as special forces with specific missions, but their missions were not specified.
In this context, eyewitnesses and consistent sources indicated the presence of training camps supervised by foreign experts, accompanied by Colonel Osman Bello, who defected from the Sudanese army. These camps were located in the Domaya neighborhood, west of Nyala and the crossing at Wadi Andar east of the city, in addition to the former UNAMID headquarters, which was established as a new camp.
The eyewitnesses confirmed the presence of gathering centers for fighters in the Kashalango camp, 8 km south of the city, and the Nyala Technical College, in addition to gathering camps in the Al-Salam and Ad Al-Fursan localities, before they were later distributed to the main training camps.
RSF had recently graduated batches of new fighters from the military police and special forces.
In April of this year, Darfur 24 reported the arrival of 14 four-wheel drive vehicles carrying foreign soldiers to the city of Zalingei entered Sudan through neighboring Chad.