BOSASO, Somalia, Oct 11, 2025 (Horn Life) – A United Arab Emirates (UAE) military base in Somalia’s port city of Bosaso is being used as a transit hub for Colombian mercenaries bound for Sudan’s civil war, a joint investigation by The Guardian and Colombian outlet La Silla Vacía revealed on Saturday.
The report alleges that hundreds of ex-Colombian soldiers, recruited under the guise of security jobs, are funneled through the UAE-controlled facility in Puntland before being deployed to support Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in their 18-month conflict against the Sudanese army.
One mercenary, speaking anonymously for safety reasons, said he signed a contract in Bogotá for $2,600 a month, believing he would guard oil fields in the Gulf. Instead, he was flown via Ethiopia to Bosaso, then onward to Nyala in Sudan’s Darfur region, a key RSF stronghold.
The UAE has long faced accusations of arming and funding the RSF, which has been linked to atrocities, including blocking aid and recruiting child soldiers. Abu Dhabi denies the claims, calling them baseless.
The Bosaso base, built years ago by the UAE to train Puntland’s maritime forces, has reportedly morphed into a covert hub for military operations, including arms transfers and personnel movements. The investigation raises questions about Somalia’s role in the Sudan conflict and whether Puntland authorities are aware of or complicit in the base’s activities.
Documents and passport stamps obtained by La Silla Vacía confirm the route, with recruits processed in groups of up to 40. Videos show drone training at the base, including Chinese-made CH-95 models, under strict secrecy protocols.
Colombia’s foreign ministry vowed to investigate recruiters after an earlier exposé last year. The UAE did not immediately respond to requests for comment.The report underscores growing concerns over the UAE’s regional military influence and the use of foreign mercenaries in Sudan’s war, which has killed tens of thousands and displaced millions.
