UN Expert Team Unveils Transfer of Mercenaries from Colombia and Syria to Sudan via Libya

The United Nations expert team on Libya detailed how Libyan territory has become a platform for supporting Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia, with weapons and mercenaries moved south through smuggling routes, creating broad security and regional implications.

In a draft report covering the period from October 2024 to February 2026, the experts said armed groups in eastern and southern Libya facilitated the transfer of mercenaries from Colombia and Syria, along with weapons, military equipment, and fuel, to Sudan in support of the militia, some of whose members are present inside Libya.

The report noted that “armed groups in eastern Libya profited from revenues generated by cross-border smuggling activities, particularly fuel, weapons, and mercenaries,” describing the town of Kufra as “a hub for transferring weapons and mercenaries southward to Sudan” due to its proximity to the border and smuggling routes.