South American Mercenaries in Sudan Allegedly Recruited by British-Based Firms

Situated near a shiny soccer ground of Tottenham Hotspur in London lies a plain, nondescript block of flats. Behind its ordinary beige brickwork lies a grim reality: a small second-floor apartment connected to murderous atrocities unfolding thousands of miles to the south.

According to British official documents, this one-bedroom flat in north London is tied to a transnational web of companies implicated in the large-scale hiring of fighters to combat in Sudan alongside paramilitaries charged of numerous war crimes and genocide.

Hundreds of Former Colombian Military Recruited

A large number of ex-soldiers from Colombia have been recruited to fight with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group blamed for mass rapes, targeted killings, and the widespread killing of civilians.

These contractors were key participants in the paramilitaries’ capture of the western Sudanese city of El Fasher in late October, which triggered a killing frenzy that experts believe has cost over 60,000 lives.

As accounts of atrocities mount, connections have been identified between the mercenaries contracted to capture El Fasher and addresses in the city of London.

London Flat Connected to Sanctioned Firm

The apartment in north London is registered to a company named Zeuz Global, set up by two individuals named and sanctioned recently by the American authorities for recruiting contractors to fight for the RSF.

Both figures – citizens of Colombia in their 50s – are listed in records at Companies House as resident in the United Kingdom.

The company is operational. The following day the US treasury announced restrictions on those running the Colombian mercenary operation, Zeuz Global abruptly moved its registered address to the centre of London. Its new postcode corresponds to a luxury accommodation in Covent Garden.

Both hotels said they had no connection to Zeuz Global and had no idea why the company had listed their addresses.

"It is of major concern that the primary figures the US government states are orchestrating this fighter recruitment have been able to establish a UK company operating from a flat in the capital," said an expert, a researcher and former member of a UN panel on Sudan.

Questions Raised Over UK Company Checks

Experts say the situation raises concerns over how people openly censured by the US for "fueling the conflict in Sudan" were able to apparently establish and operate a firm in the UK capital.

The British foreign secretary has censured the RSF for "organized murder, torture and sexual violence" following the faction's capture of El Fasher. The RSF has been accused by the US with acts of genocide.

When questioned about the company, the registry did not comment on whether it had awareness of the company's operations or verify the residency status of the sanctioned individuals.

Contacting Zeuz was fruitless; its online site, set up in spring, was marked as "being built" with no contact details.

Network Headed by Former Soldier

Per the American authorities, the man at the centre of the Colombian recruiting network for the RSF is a dual Colombian-Italian national and former army officer located in the Gulf state.

The US accuses this individual of playing a key part in hiring former Colombian soldiers to be deployed to Sudan using a Colombian recruitment firm. His wife was also penalized for owning and managing the firm.

Another dual national was similarly censured for managing a company alleged of handling funds and payroll for the network employing the mercenaries.

"In 2024 and 2025, US-based firms linked with this individual engaged in many bank transactions, amounting to millions of US dollars," the US treasury statement said.

Company Registration and Intensifying Conflict

In spring of this year, the sanctioned individuals registered a firm in north London called ODP8 Ltd – later renamed Zeuz Global.

Shortly after, the RSF attacked the Zamzam camp for displaced people, slaughtering more than 1,500 civilians. After its seizure, the camp was handed over to Colombian mercenaries, who began preparations for attacking El Fasher.

The penalized people are listed in Companies House records as owning "initial shareholdings" in the firm, with one named as a key controller.

The two list the UK as their "country of residence".

Effect on the War and Broader Concerns

The recruitment of the South Americans has had a profound impact on the course of the conflict, experts state. These nationals have reportedly trained children to be soldiers, as well as serving as marksmen, infantrymen, trainers, and operators for drones.

These aircraft were instrumental in the capture of El Fasher and during combat in other regions.

"The war in Sudan is a hi-tech one, with guided weapons and remote aircraft causing daily fatalities," added the analyst. "These systems require outside assistance to operate. We know that the recruitment network has been a major component of this outside support."

He noted that the participation of penalized persons in a UK company highlighted broader concerns over the lack of rigorous checks when firms are established.

"Owning a UK company like this is a passport for criminals to do business with respectable entities. It's still harder to join a gym in most cases than to set up a UK company," he said.

Official Reaction and Continuing Claims

A UK official stated that the recent introduction of "mandatory identity verification" for company directors would provide greater assurance about who was establishing and controlling UK firms.

The Colombians’ involvement in Sudan first emerged last year, leading to an apology from the South American nation's government.

One of the fighters recently admitted that he had trained children in Sudan and seen combat in El Fasher.

The UAE, long accused of arming the RSF, has also been linked to the hiring of the contractors. A report alleged that UAE nationals supplying Colombians to the RSF were linked to a senior UAE government official. The UAE has repeatedly rejected these allegations.

A UK official commented: "The UK is demanding an halt to atrocities, the safety of civilians, and the lifting of barriers to humanitarian access."

They noted that the UK had also imposed restrictions on RSF leaders for their part in the crimes in El Fasher.