On the 6th, the Sudanese Air Force destroyed a UAE plane carrying Colombian mercenaries in the capital of South Darfur State, Nyala, in western Sudan, resulting in the deaths of dozens of mercenaries.
According to the Sudanese television, citing military sources, the plane took off from an air force base in the Gulf region with at least 40 people on board, aiming to transport personnel and equipment for the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of Sudan. Sudanese Armed Forces intelligence agencies monitored the plane's movements in real time and struck immediately after the aircraft landed at Nyala International Airport.
The Sudanese Rapid Support Forces and the UAE have yet to respond to the relevant reports.
On April 15, 2023, armed clashes broke out between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF in the capital Khartoum, with fighting later spreading to other regions. Over the long term, the Sudanese government has repeatedly accused the UAE of supporting the RSF by providing weapons and funds, which the UAE has consistently denied.
In May of this year, the Sudanese Security and Defense Council issued a statement announcing that Sudan was severing diplomatic ties with the UAE and recalling its diplomatic mission from the country. On August 4, Sudan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement accusing the UAE of recruiting and funding Colombian mercenaries to fight for the RSF against the Sudanese Armed Forces, an accusation the UAE denied.
UAE Bans Sudanese Flights from Landing at Its Airports
On the other hand, Sudan's Civil Aviation Authority issued a statement on the 6th stating that the UAE has banned flights operated by Sudanese airlines from landing at UAE airports.
The statement noted that on that day the UAE also prohibited a Sudanese airline passenger plane from taking off from Abu Dhabi airport. Sudan's Civil Aviation Authority expressed surprise at this, said it is closely following the situation, is communicating with the airlines, and has made new arrangements for passengers who had booked affected flights.
A source from Sudan Airlines told Xinhua News Agency that the UAE authorities cited the reason that Sudan Airlines did not meet operational standards. This move led to the cancellation of several flights scheduled to depart from Port Sudan Airport to the UAE that day.