UN Probes Flights Linked to Sudan Arms Transfers

A United Nations panel of experts has concluded that Boeing 727 aircraft previously identified in a Reuters investigation were used to transport weapons, drones, mercenaries and fighters to Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF), according to a draft report expected to be published in September.

The report says investigators received information from four independent sources indicating that the aircraft transported military equipment and personnel to RSF-controlled areas, particularly Nyala in Sudan’s Darfur region. The findings support an earlier Reuters investigation that linked the ageing aircraft to a network of companies associated with former United States Army Special Forces soldier and government contractor Steven Shaulis.

According to the panel, three Boeing 727 aircraft operated from the military section of N’Djamena International Airport in Chad from late 2024 and appeared to take deliberate measures to avoid detection while in flight. Investigators said the aircraft regularly used an air corridor between Chad and Nyala to transport fighters, foreign mercenaries, drones and other military equipment.

The report also states that Colombian mercenaries recruited through a United Arab Emirates-based company fought alongside RSF forces during operations in Darfur. The panel estimated that between 1,500 and 2,000 Colombian fighters had taken part in the conflict.

Shaulis did not respond to questions about the UN findings and has previously declined to comment on his companies or the aircraft. Contractor Airways, which acquired two of the Boeing 727s, has denied any connection to the RSF, while the United Arab Emirates rejected allegations that the company identified in the report was involved in recruiting mercenaries.

The draft report has been submitted to the UN Security Council ahead of its expected publication. The United Nations has not yet released the final version.

SOURCE: Reuters