Key Takeaways
- A Guardian investigation has revealed that companies registered in Britain have actively recruited hundreds of former Colombian military personnel to fight for Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group widely accused of egregious war crimes, including mass rapes and ethnic slaughter.
- Colombian mercenaries were directly involved in the RSF's late October seizure of El Fasher, an assault analysts estimate led to at least 60,000 deaths. This highlights the direct and deadly impact of foreign fighters in the escalating Sudanese civil war.
- Individuals linked to the UK-registered recruitment network, specifically a company named Zeuz Global, have been sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury for their role in fueling the conflict. This underscores international efforts to disrupt mercenary operations and hold responsible parties accountable.
- Testimonies from Colombian mercenaries confirm their involvement in training child soldiers in Sudan, adding another layer of severe human rights abuses to the conflict.
A recent investigation by The Guardian has uncovered a disturbing network linking UK-registered companies to the recruitment of Colombian mercenaries fighting on behalf of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan's brutal civil war. Hundreds of former Colombian military personnel have been enlisted, significantly impacting the conflict's trajectory and severity.
British Companies at the Center of Recruitment
The investigation found that companies registered in Britain were instrumental in enlisting these Colombian fighters. A specific entity, Zeuz Global, registered in north London, has been identified as part of this transnational recruitment network. The findings connect addresses in the UK capital to the mass recruitment of mercenaries for a paramilitary group accused of widespread atrocities.
Sanctions and Allegations of War Crimes
In a significant development, the U.S. Treasury recently sanctioned Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra and Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, individuals linked to Zeuz Global. They are accused of playing a central role in recruiting former Colombian soldiers for deployment to Sudan, operating through a Bogotá-based employment agency co-founded by Quijano. The RSF, the paramilitary group benefiting from these mercenaries, faces accusations of mass rapes, ethnic slaughter, and the systematic killing of women and children.
Mercenaries' Role in Key Battles and Child Soldier Training
Colombian mercenaries were directly involved in critical engagements, including the RSF's seizure of the south-western Sudanese city of El Fasher in late October. This assault reportedly triggered a killing frenzy that analysts suggest has cost at least 60,000 lives. Furthermore, testimonies from some of these Colombian fighters reveal their participation in training child soldiers within Sudan, a grave violation of international law. One mercenary, identified as Carlos, described training thousands of recruits, "mostly children," to handle assault rifles, machine guns, and RPGs before sending them to the front lines.
International Implications and Denials
The involvement of foreign fighters has drawn international scrutiny. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been accused of arming the RSF and being linked to the hiring of Colombian mercenaries through private security firms, allegations the UAE has consistently denied. Experts note that Colombia's decades-long internal conflict has produced a surplus of seasoned combatants, many with U.S. military training, making them attractive to mercenary recruiters. The initial revelations of Colombian involvement emerged last year through an investigation by the Bogotá-based outlet La Silla Vacía, prompting an apology from Colombia's foreign ministry.
Ed Liston is a senior contributing editor at TheStockMarketWatch.com. An active market watcher and investor, Ed guides an independent team of experienced analysts and writes for multiple stock trader publications.