Khartoum, Sudan — A number of Sudanese children have been forcibly recruited to fight in the country’s ongoing conflict, with some receiving military training from Colombian mercenaries hired by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), according to firsthand accounts gathered from former child soldiers.

The war between Sudan’s military and the RSF, a paramilitary group, has entered its fourth year. The RSF, which has roots in the Janjaweed militias implicated in past atrocities in Darfur, has been accused of widespread human rights abuses, including the conscription of children as young as eight. Six former child soldiers who escaped RSF captivity described being abducted or mistakenly captured in Khartoum and the nearby city of Omdurman, then forced into combat roles with little training or choice.

One 17-year-old boy recounted being shackled to an antiaircraft gun mounted on a pickup truck as RSF forces came under aerial attack. Colombian mercenaries, who were reportedly responsible for training the children, instructed the RSF fighters to restrain the children to the weapons to prevent escape. The boy described the trauma of firing on jets despite fear and inexperience, as well as the brutal conditions he endured, including having his hands bound at all times, lack of basic hygiene, and severe physical abuse.

Another former child soldier similarly reported being held at an RSF camp known as al-Konan, where Colombians trained him and other boys in the use of heavy artillery and drones. He described being locked up between missions and beaten for refusing to fire on targets, some of which he identified as civilians. The boy recounted the death of a friend who was executed after attempting to flee, a loss that continues to haunt him.

These testimonies align with reports from human rights organizations that document the involvement of foreign mercenaries, particularly Colombians, alongside the RSF. Experts and research groups say that hundreds of Colombians, many veterans of Colombia’s own prolonged internal conflicts, have been recruited to fight in Sudan, often through entities linked to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The UAE has been accused by the Sudanese military and U.N. panels of supplying arms to the RSF, though the Emirati government denies these claims, stating shipments were intended as humanitarian aid.

The use of child soldiers constitutes a war crime under international law. The United Nations and Sudanese government officials acknowledge that all factions in the conflict have employed children, many of whom remain active on the front lines. Abdelgadir Abdullah Abu Ali, secretary-general of Sudan’s National Council for Child Welfare, estimates tens of thousands of children have been affected.

Many former child combatants are now undergoing rehabilitation at a military-run center on the outskirts of Khartoum, where more than 200 boys are receiving medical care and psychological support. Several display severe injuries and scars from torture or combat wounds. Psychologists working at the center highlight the difficulty reintegrating these children into society, particularly when families reject them due to stigma or trauma. Some parents reportedly express shame or refuse contact with their children upon their return.

International agencies and Sudanese officials are attempting to expedite the release and demobilization of child soldiers, while advocating for their protection in line with child rights standards. However, the complex and protracted nature of Sudan’s conflict complicates these efforts.

Meanwhile, the involvement of foreign mercenaries, including Colombians, raises further concerns about the dynamics of the conflict and the proliferation of external actors influencing the war’s progression. The Colombian government denies formal knowledge of mercenary recruitment but condemns the use of child soldiers.

As Sudan’s conflict continues, the plight of its youngest victims remains a urgent humanitarian and human rights challenge, posing pressing questions about accountability, foreign involvement, and the long-term prospects for peace and reconciliation.