Colombia apologizes again to Sudan over mercenaries fighting alongside RSF

December 2, 2024 (PORT SUDAN) – Colombia apologized to Sudan for a second time in 24 hours on Monday over the involvement of its citizens as mercenaries fighting alongside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the country’s ongoing conflict.

Colombian Foreign Minister Luis Gilberto Murillo called his Sudanese counterpart, Ali Yusuf, to express his regret and discuss the repatriation of the mercenaries, according to a statement from Sudan’s Foreign Ministry.

On Sunday, Colombia’s ambassador to Egypt, Ann Milena, also issued a formal apology to Sudan’s ambassador in Cairo.

The statement said Murillo condemned the “unacceptable” actions of the Colombian nationals and stressed the importance of cooperation to ensure their return.

Yusuf expressed “surprise and sadness” and said Sudan was ready to work with Colombia to address the situation and preserve relations between the two countries.

Last month, a joint force of armed groups allied with Sudan’s army said it seized identity documents belonging to Colombian mercenaries during an ambush on an RSF supply convoy from Libya. The RSF has not commented on the incident.