Tracker Identifies Kenyan-Registered Flights Allegedly Running Errands for RSF

A sophisticated flight tracking probe spanning three East African countries has lifted the lid on what investigators describe as a covert air bridge involving Kenyan-registered aircraft allegedly ferrying mercenaries and military logistics for Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces militia.

The flights, operated by Nairobi-based charter firms, were traced moving between military airbases in Ethiopia and Chad, with stopovers in the United Arab Emirates, according to flight data reviewed by investigators.

On three occasions in recent weeks, civilian-registered aircraft departed from Harar Meda Air Base and Bole International Airport in Ethiopia en route to N’Djamena International Airport in Chad.

On the right: 5Y-FQA parked on the military apron at N’Djamena Airport; on the left: the aircraft at Harar Meda Air Base. Courtesy Afrimoesint X

Harar Meda is the principal base of the Ethiopian Air Force, raising questions about why civilian charter jets would originate from a restricted military facility.

Two of the tracked flights were operated by 5Y-FQA, a Boeing 737-400 in passenger configuration owned by Fanjet Express.

The aircraft flew from Al Reef Air Base in Abu Dhabi to Addis Ababa before continuing onward. Aviation sources describe Al Reef as a military-linked facility used for Emirati operations into Africa.

The jet operated under callsigns 7F100 and 7F101, identifiers frequently associated with Fanjet services chartered for United Arab Emirates-linked deployments.

Industry observers say similar callsign patterns have appeared on flights to Bosaso and Berbera, areas known for Emirati military presence.

On January 30, another aircraft added to the pattern. A Fokker 100 registered 5Y-SKB and operated by Skyward Airlines flew from Harar Meda Air Base to N’Djamena, where it reportedly parked on the military apron. Aviation sources claim Skyward has previously transported injured RSF fighters, though the airline has not publicly addressed the allegation.

Skyward Airlines Fokker 100 jet flight from Harar Meda Air Base to N’Djamena Airport. Courtesy Afrimeosint X

The RSF, led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, widely known as Hemedti, is battling the Sudanese Armed Forces for control of Sudan. The militia has been accused by the United Nations and rights groups of atrocities in Darfur.

The flight data surfaces as international scrutiny intensifies over alleged regional support networks. A recent investigation by Reuters documented what it described as a secret military training camp in Ethiopia’s Benishangul Gumuz region near the Sudan border. Satellite imagery showed hundreds of tents and heavy vehicles, with expansion continuing into January.

Eight sources cited by the agency alleged the United Arab Emirates financed the camp and provided trainers and logistics.

Ethiopian officials have not publicly confirmed the claims.

However, internal security documents reviewed by Reuters indicated the site began operations in October and was training thousands of fighters by early January, including Ethiopians, Sudanese and South Sudanese nationals.

The aviation trail also echoes findings by the United Nations Security Council, which in a January 2024 report flagged Kenyan airports as possible transit points in the RSF weapons supply chain. The report cited routes from Abu Dhabi through Chad, with stops in several East African states.

Further controversy erupted after a May 23 video circulated online showing Sudanese soldiers inside a weapons storehouse in Omdurman formerly controlled by RSF. Crates visible in the footage bore markings including “CONTRACT NO.23PTI/KEMOD 01/KENYA” and references to 82mm HE mortar bombs labelled AMI/KEN/099/2023.

The markings appeared to reference Kenyan defence contracts, although their origin has not been independently verified.

Kenya’s Ministry of Defence dismissed the claims after reviewing images.

In a statement, it said it did not recognise the crates or markings and insisted all Kenya Ordnance Factory supplies are audited and logged. The ministry did not directly address the contract numbers visible in the footage.

Diplomatic tensions have escalated sharply. On May 3 2025, a cargo aircraft allegedly ferrying weapons to RSF was bombed by Sudanese forces at Nyala Airport in Darfur.

Kenyan pilot Michael George Oluoch Nyamodi was killed in the strike. Sudan’s military has stepped up air raids targeting suspected RSF supply lines.

At the centre of the diplomatic storm is Nairobi’s hosting of an RSF-linked meeting at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre. During the event, RSF deputy leader Abdul Rahim Hamdan Dagalo met allies to discuss what they termed a transitional administration for Sudan.

The Sudanese Armed Forces, led by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, condemned the gathering and accused Kenya of abetting a rival regime.

Kenya’s Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign Affairs CS Musalia Mudavadi rejected the accusations, stating that hosting the forum did not amount to endorsing its outcomes.

The United States has also weighed in.

The Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control lists Algoney Hamdan Dagalo Musa, Hemedti’s younger brother and alleged head of RSF weapons procurement, as operating with a Kenyan passport alongside Sudanese and Emirati documents. Washington sanctioned him in October 2024 for allegedly facilitating arms supplies to the militia.

US senators have since called for investigations into his travel and possible engagements with American entities. The African Union has urged member states not to recognise any parallel Sudanese government, warning of further fragmentation.

Sudan responded by recalling its envoy from Nairobi and imposing restrictions on Kenyan tea imports, signalling a diplomatic rift that could deepen if the allegations persist.

For Kenya, long regarded as a regional mediator, the convergence of flight paths, sanctioned individuals holding Kenyan documents and disputed weapons markings threatens to tarnish its peacemaker credentials. As Sudan’s war grinds on, displacing millions and claiming thousands of lives, the spotlight on Nairobi’s role is unlikely to fade.