**London/Khartoum** – A clandestine recruitment network, reportedly involving UK-registered entities, has been instrumental in deploying hundreds of former Colombian military personnel to fight for Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF). These foreign fighters are alleged to have played a pivotal role in the RSF's recent brutal offensive on El Fasher, a south-western Sudanese city, a development that has intensified fears of widespread atrocities and exacerbated the already dire humanitarian crisis.
The US Treasury, in a significant move on December 9th, announced sanctions against individuals implicated in this mercenary operation. The Treasury identified two Colombian nationals, both in their fifties, for their alleged involvement in orchestrating the deployment of these battle-hardened ex-soldiers. These individuals are accused of facilitating the recruitment of former members of the Colombian armed forces, many of whom possess extensive combat experience, to bolster the RSF's ranks.
The timing of these revelations is particularly alarming, coinciding with the RSF's aggressive push into El Fasher. Analysts suggest that the influx of these experienced foreign combatants may have been a decisive factor in the RSF's ability to seize control of the city. The consequences of this offensive have been catastrophic, with estimates indicating that the conflict in and around El Fasher alone could have resulted in as many as 60,000 fatalities, painting a grim picture of the escalating violence.
Central to this shadowy operation is Zeuz Global, a company registered in the United Kingdom. Investigations reveal that Zeuz Global is intricately linked to the individuals who have now been sanctioned by the US Treasury. The company's purported role appears to be that of a conduit, facilitating the logistical and operational aspects of bringing these Colombian fighters to Sudan. Evidence suggests that Zeuz Global, which listed addresses in areas such as Tottenham and Covent Garden, and was even linked to the Waldorf Hilton hotel, demonstrated a swift reaction to the imposition of sanctions. Reports indicate that the company, on December 10th, the day after the sanctions were announced, relocated its operational base within London, a move that suggests an attempt to evade scrutiny and continue its activities unabated.
The RSF itself has been the subject of intense international condemnation. The paramilitary group, which emerged from the Janjaweed militia, is widely accused by international bodies and human rights organisations of perpetrating egregious war crimes. These accusations include systematic mass rape, ethnic slaughter, and the deliberate killing of civilians, including women and children. The deployment of foreign mercenaries, particularly those with a history of combat, is seen as a deliberate strategy by the RSF to enhance its military capabilities and potentially to insulate its core leadership from direct accountability for its actions on the ground.
The involvement of UK-registered companies in such a network raises profound questions about oversight and the potential for such entities to be exploited for illicit purposes. The sanctions imposed by the US Treasury underscore the severity of the alleged transgressions and signal a determination to disrupt the flow of foreign fighters into Sudan's protracted and brutal civil war. The situation in Sudan, already a complex tapestry of internal strife and regional destabilisation, is now further complicated by the revelation of this international mercenary recruitment pipeline, suggesting a worrying global dimension to the conflict. The implications for the civilian population, already bearing the brunt of the violence, are dire, as the presence of experienced foreign fighters could prolong the fighting and deepen the humanitarian catastrophe.