Internationally fact-checked report has exonerated the United Arab Emirates, UAE, of fuelling the war in Sudan through the use of foreign mercenaries.
News Agency Reuters reports that a viral video of alleged mercenaries from a certain south American country fighting in the Sudanese city of El Fasher with the support of UAE is false.
The videos surfaced online after Sudan claimed in early August that it had destroyed an Emirati plane carrying Colombian mercenaries, killing at least 40 fighters.
UAE rejected the allegations, called them “unfounded” and pointed out that they indicate a pattern of disinformation and deflecting blame.
The videos actually show part of a joint military training exercise between the USA military and forces from other European countries in Estonia.
Director of Strategic Communication in the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Afra Al Hameli, slammed the “falsehoods and lies of the authorities in Sudan.
She points out her country’s neutrality and desire for dignified peace as some parties in the conflict make desperate attempts to cover up practices, violations, and direct role in the civil war tearing Sudan apart.
Reuters says the original video released by the US Department of Defence on August 18 was filmed on July 24, with the participation of units from the US Army, the British Armed Forces, Canada, and Estonian Armed Forces near Camp Tapa in Estonia for the training which took place from July 21 to 25.
The emblem of the US Army’s 3rd Infantry Division can be seen on the uniform of the person inside the vehicle and on a soldier firing a weapon — this division participated in the joint Estonian exercise.
