Colombian ex-military personnel, numbering in the hundreds, have reportedly been recruited to bolster the ranks of Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group implicated in egregious human rights violations. This revelation emerges as the RSF faces widespread accusations of atrocities, including mass sexual violence and the systematic slaughter of civilians, in the ongoing Sudanese conflict. Simultaneously, Colombia itself grapples with escalating violence, exemplified by a recent deadly attack by the Ejército de Liberación Nacional (ELN) guerrilla group, underscoring the nation's persistent internal security challenges.
The involvement of Colombian nationals in Sudan's brutal civil war appears to be facilitated by a network with links to Zeuz Global, a company registered in the United Kingdom. The United States Treasury has imposed sanctions on individuals identified as directors of this network, describing them as Colombian nationals residing in Britain, aged in their fifties. These sanctions were announced on December 9th, highlighting the international dimension of this mercenary operation. The illicit recruitment allegedly saw former Colombian soldiers deployed to aid the RSF in significant military operations, including the reported seizure of El Fasher, a key city in Sudan, which consequently led to a substantial loss of life, with estimates suggesting over 60,000 fatalities in the region following this event. Zeuz Global, in response to scrutiny, appears to have relocated its operational base, with new address details surfaced on December 10th.
This disturbing trend of Colombian nationals participating in foreign conflicts comes against a backdrop of persistent insecurity within Colombia itself. Just recently, on Thursday night, the ELN, the South American nation's oldest surviving guerrilla faction, launched a sophisticated attack on a military installation situated near the Venezuelan border. Employing drones and explosive devices, the assault resulted in the tragic deaths of seven Colombian soldiers and left at least thirty more wounded. Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez vehemently condemned the act, stating, "I categorically reject the ELN’s terrorist action using drones and launching of explosive devices against a Military Base… with the regrettable loss of 6 of our soldiers and at least about 28 soldiers wounded." This violent incident highlights the ongoing fragility of peace negotiations between the Colombian government and the ELN, a group that maintains considerable influence over vital drug-producing territories.
The broader geopolitical context is further complicated by the United States' stance on Colombia's persistent struggle with cocaine production. Colombia remains the world's preeminent supplier of cocaine, and President Gustavo Petro, himself a former guerrilla member, has faced US sanctions due to perceived insufficient action against drug-trafficking organisations. This diplomatic pressure adds another layer of complexity to Colombia's efforts to foster both domestic stability and international trust. The recent violence, both on foreign battlefields and within its own borders, casts a long shadow over Colombia's aspirations for enduring peace and security. The interconnectedness of these conflicts, from the sands of Sudan to the jungles of Colombia, underscores the pervasive and often clandestine nature of modern warfare and the exploitation of former military expertise for nefarious purposes.