The Guardian Investigative Report: Colombian Mercenaries Implicated in Sudan Massacres
Sudanhorizon – Euronews
A Guardian investigation has revealed an international network recruiting Colombian mercenaries to fight in Sudan alongside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), the militia accused of committing war crimes and genocide in El Fasher and Darfur.
The investigation showed that some of these operations were conducted through companies registered in the United Kingdom. One such company, Zeuz Global, is based in a small apartment located in North London, according to British government records.
The company was founded by two Colombians who were recently sanctioned by the US Treasury Department for recruiting mercenaries to fight with the RSF. A day after the sanctions were announced, the company relocated its headquarters to central London, using hotel addresses without authorization.
Colombian Mercenaries in El Fasher
Hundreds of Colombian mercenaries participated directly in Rapid Support Forces (RSF) operations, including the attack on El Fasher last October, which analysts estimate resulted in the deaths of at least 60,000 people.
The mercenaries trained children in combat, served as snipers and drone operators, and used advanced weaponry to help secure control of the city and conduct military operations in the Kordofan region.
The U.S. Treasury Department indicates that Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a retired Colombian officer with Italian citizenship residing in the United Arab Emirates, leads the Colombian recruitment network. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was involved in managing the recruitment agency that enlisted the Colombian soldiers.
The United States also imposed sanctions on Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, another Colombian with Spanish citizenship, for running a company involved in money transfers and payroll for the mercenaries. Duque and Oliveros founded a company in North London called ODP8 Ltd in April 2025, later renamed Zeuz Global, with a capital of £10,000.
Advanced Technology and Weapons in the Sudanese War
Mike Lewis, a researcher and former member of the UN Panel of Experts on Sudan, said: “The war in Sudan has become a high-tech war. Drones and guided weapons are killing civilians daily, and their operation requires external expertise. Colombian mercenaries have formed a key part of this technical and military assistance.”
Previous reports indicated that “Emirati businessmen played a role in recruiting mercenaries and were linked to prominent UAE government figures,” allegations which the UAE has denied.
The UK Foreign Office said the UK calls for an immediate end to the atrocities, the protection of civilians, and the removal of obstacles to humanitarian access.
London also announced sanctions against Rapid Support Forces commanders for their role in the atrocities in El Fasher.
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