Estonian Training Video Exposes Port-Sudan’s False Claims about Alleged Colombian Mercenaries

30th August 2025

2 minutes read

Estonian Training Video Exposes Port-Sudan’s False Claims about Alleged Colombian Mercenaries

As the saying goes, “a lie has short legs.” No matter how far disinformation spreads, the truth eventually emerges under the light of evidence.

This is precisely what happened with a video promoted by the Sudanese authorities, who attempted to use it misleadingly to undermine the humanitarian role of the United Arab Emirates and its commitment to supporting the Sudanese people in their pursuit of peace and stability.

On Friday, Reuters’ fact-checking service exposed the real origin of the footage that the Sudanese government had previously claimed showed “Colombian mercenaries” fighting alongside the Rapid Support Forces.

In fact, the video depicts part of a joint military training exercise conducted by U.S. and European troops in Estonia. Contrary to online claims, it does not show Colombian fighters engaged in combat in El-Fasher, Sudan.

Earlier in August, Sudanese officials asserted that Colombian fighters had been killed in El-Fasher, accusing the UAE of being “involved” in the ongoing conflict.

The UAE’s rejection and stance

The United Arab Emirates firmly rejected these accusations. In an official statement issued on August 5, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs dismissed the allegations as “false claims,” reiterating the UAE’s unwavering support for the Sudanese people in their pursuit of peace and stability.

The ministry emphasized that these repeated accusations are part of a deliberate campaign orchestrated by the Port-Sudan authority to evade responsibility and shift the blame onto external actors.

The verified facts

The widely circulated video on social media actually shows live-fire training conducted in Estonia from July 21 to 25, involving U.S., British, Canadian, and Estonian forces.

The original footage was released by the U.S. Department of Defense’s Defense Visual Information Distribution Service (DVIDS) on July 29. It features soldiers entering a military vehicle, firing mortar rounds, and giving commands in English such as “Ready, fire!”

Visual details, including the insignia of the U.S. Army’s 3rd Infantry Division clearly visible on the uniforms, confirm the authenticity and context of the drill. According to a statement by the U.S. Army’s V Corps, based in Poland, the exercise was intended to assess the combat readiness of participating units.

This revelation highlights yet another attempt at manipulation by the Port-Sudan authorities, proving once again that propaganda inevitably collapses when confronted with documented and verifiable facts.