🔗 Share this article South American Contractors in Sudan Reportedly Recruited by UK-Registered Firms Tucked away near the gleaming soccer ground of Tottenham Hotspur in the British capital is a plain, unremarkable apartment building. Beyond its ordinary facade exists a dark secret: a cramped flat linked to deadly crimes taking place a vast distance to the south. Per British official documents, this apartment in north London is connected to a international network of firms implicated in the mass recruitment of mercenaries to combat in the African nation alongside militias accused of myriad war crimes and ethnic cleansing. Hundreds of Former South American Soldiers Recruited Hundreds of ex-soldiers from Colombia have been recruited to serve with Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group blamed for sexual violence, ethnic slaughter, and the widespread killing of women and children. These contractors were directly involved in the RSF's capture of the western Sudanese city of El Fasher in recent months, which sparked a killing frenzy that analysts say has cost over 60,000 lives. While accounts of violence mount, connections have been found between the fighters contracted to overrun El Fasher and addresses in the UK capital. London Flat Connected to Censured Firm The apartment in north London is listed to a company named Zeuz Global, established by two individuals identified and penalized last week by the US treasury for recruiting contractors to fight for the RSF. Both figures – Colombian nationals in their 50s – are described in documents at the UK company registry as resident in Britain. The company remains operational. The day after the US treasury announced restrictions on those behind the Colombian mercenary operation, Zeuz Global abruptly moved its official location to the very heart of London. Its new postcode corresponds to a five-star hotel in Covent Garden. Both hotels stated they had no link to Zeuz Global and had no idea why the firm had used their postcodes. "This is of major concern that the primary figures the US government states are directing this fighter recruitment have been able to set up a UK company based from a apartment in north London," stated Mike Lewis, a analyst and ex-participant of a United Nations group on Sudan. Questions Raised Over British Firm Oversight Analysts argue the saga raises questions over how people openly censured by the US for "fueling the conflict in Sudan" were able to seemingly set up and run a firm in the UK capital. The British foreign secretary has condemned the RSF for "systematic killings, abuse and sexual violence" following the group’s seizure of El Fasher. The RSF has been charged by the US with acts of genocide. When questioned about Zeuz Global, Companies House did not comment on whether it had awareness of the firm’s operations or verify the residency status of the sanctioned individuals. Reaching out to Zeuz proved unsuccessful; its online site, set up in May, was marked as "under construction" with no contact details. Network Led by Former Soldier According to the American authorities, the figure at the heart of the South American recruitment operation for the RSF is a citizen of two countries and retired Colombian military officer based in the Gulf state. The US accuses this individual of playing a central role in recruiting ex-military personnel to be sent to Sudan using a Colombian employment agency. His wife was also penalized for owning and managing the firm. Another individual with two citizenships was similarly censured for managing a company alleged of handling funds and payroll for the operation employing the Colombian fighters. "In 2024 and 2025, companies in America linked with this individual conducted numerous wire transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the official announcement read. Firm Establishment and Escalating Violence In spring of the current year, the penalized figures registered a company in the UK capital called ODP8 Ltd – later re-branded Zeuz Global. Shortly after, the RSF assaulted the Zamzam displacement camp, killing over 1,500 innocent people. After its capture, the camp was transferred to Colombian mercenaries, who began preparations for attacking El Fasher. The penalized people are named in official UK documents as holding "starting shares" in the firm, with one identified as a key controller. The two list Britain as their "country of residence". Effect on the Conflict and Wider Issues The hiring of the Colombians has had a significant effect on the trajectory of the war, experts state. These nationals have allegedly instructed minors to be soldiers, as well as serving as snipers, infantrymen, trainers, and operators for drones. These drones proved key in the fall of El Fasher and during fighting in surrounding areas. "The war in Sudan is a technologically advanced one, with precision munitions and long-range drones causing daily civilian deaths," added the expert. "These systems require outside assistance to operate. We know that the recruitment network has been a major component of this external assistance." He noted that the participation of sanctioned individuals in a UK company highlighted broader concerns over the absence of strict vetting when companies are established. "Owning a UK company like this is a license for bad actors to do business with legitimate counterparts. It's still more difficult to join a gym in most cases than to establish a UK company," he stated. Government Response and Ongoing Allegations A UK official said that the recent introduction of "mandatory identity verification" for company directors would provide greater assurance about who was setting up and controlling UK firms. The Colombians’ involvement in Sudan first came to light last year, leading to an apology from Colombia’s foreign ministry. One of the fighters recently admitted that he had instructed minors in Sudan and seen combat in El Fasher. The UAE, repeatedly alleged of arming the RSF, has also been linked to the hiring of Colombian mercenaries. A report alleged that UAE nationals supplying Colombians to the RSF were connected to a high-ranking Emirati figure. The UAE has repeatedly rejected these claims. A British government spokesperson said: "The UK is demanding an immediate end to violence, the protection of non-combatants, and the removal of obstacles to aid delivery." They added that the UK had also imposed restrictions on RSF leaders for their role in the crimes in El Fasher.
Tucked away near the gleaming soccer ground of Tottenham Hotspur in the British capital is a plain, unremarkable apartment building. Beyond its ordinary facade exists a dark secret: a cramped flat linked to deadly crimes taking place a vast distance to the south. Per British official documents, this apartment in north London is connected to a international network of firms implicated in the mass recruitment of mercenaries to combat in the African nation alongside militias accused of myriad war crimes and ethnic cleansing. Hundreds of Former South American Soldiers Recruited Hundreds of ex-soldiers from Colombia have been recruited to serve with Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group blamed for sexual violence, ethnic slaughter, and the widespread killing of women and children. These contractors were directly involved in the RSF's capture of the western Sudanese city of El Fasher in recent months, which sparked a killing frenzy that analysts say has cost over 60,000 lives. While accounts of violence mount, connections have been found between the fighters contracted to overrun El Fasher and addresses in the UK capital. London Flat Connected to Censured Firm The apartment in north London is listed to a company named Zeuz Global, established by two individuals identified and penalized last week by the US treasury for recruiting contractors to fight for the RSF. Both figures – Colombian nationals in their 50s – are described in documents at the UK company registry as resident in Britain. The company remains operational. The day after the US treasury announced restrictions on those behind the Colombian mercenary operation, Zeuz Global abruptly moved its official location to the very heart of London. Its new postcode corresponds to a five-star hotel in Covent Garden. Both hotels stated they had no link to Zeuz Global and had no idea why the firm had used their postcodes. "This is of major concern that the primary figures the US government states are directing this fighter recruitment have been able to set up a UK company based from a apartment in north London," stated Mike Lewis, a analyst and ex-participant of a United Nations group on Sudan. Questions Raised Over British Firm Oversight Analysts argue the saga raises questions over how people openly censured by the US for "fueling the conflict in Sudan" were able to seemingly set up and run a firm in the UK capital. The British foreign secretary has condemned the RSF for "systematic killings, abuse and sexual violence" following the group’s seizure of El Fasher. The RSF has been charged by the US with acts of genocide. When questioned about Zeuz Global, Companies House did not comment on whether it had awareness of the firm’s operations or verify the residency status of the sanctioned individuals. Reaching out to Zeuz proved unsuccessful; its online site, set up in May, was marked as "under construction" with no contact details. Network Led by Former Soldier According to the American authorities, the figure at the heart of the South American recruitment operation for the RSF is a citizen of two countries and retired Colombian military officer based in the Gulf state. The US accuses this individual of playing a central role in recruiting ex-military personnel to be sent to Sudan using a Colombian employment agency. His wife was also penalized for owning and managing the firm. Another individual with two citizenships was similarly censured for managing a company alleged of handling funds and payroll for the operation employing the Colombian fighters. "In 2024 and 2025, companies in America linked with this individual conducted numerous wire transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the official announcement read. Firm Establishment and Escalating Violence In spring of the current year, the penalized figures registered a company in the UK capital called ODP8 Ltd – later re-branded Zeuz Global. Shortly after, the RSF assaulted the Zamzam displacement camp, killing over 1,500 innocent people. After its capture, the camp was transferred to Colombian mercenaries, who began preparations for attacking El Fasher. The penalized people are named in official UK documents as holding "starting shares" in the firm, with one identified as a key controller. The two list Britain as their "country of residence". Effect on the Conflict and Wider Issues The hiring of the Colombians has had a significant effect on the trajectory of the war, experts state. These nationals have allegedly instructed minors to be soldiers, as well as serving as snipers, infantrymen, trainers, and operators for drones. These drones proved key in the fall of El Fasher and during fighting in surrounding areas. "The war in Sudan is a technologically advanced one, with precision munitions and long-range drones causing daily civilian deaths," added the expert. "These systems require outside assistance to operate. We know that the recruitment network has been a major component of this external assistance." He noted that the participation of sanctioned individuals in a UK company highlighted broader concerns over the absence of strict vetting when companies are established. "Owning a UK company like this is a license for bad actors to do business with legitimate counterparts. It's still more difficult to join a gym in most cases than to establish a UK company," he stated. Government Response and Ongoing Allegations A UK official said that the recent introduction of "mandatory identity verification" for company directors would provide greater assurance about who was setting up and controlling UK firms. The Colombians’ involvement in Sudan first came to light last year, leading to an apology from Colombia’s foreign ministry. One of the fighters recently admitted that he had instructed minors in Sudan and seen combat in El Fasher. The UAE, repeatedly alleged of arming the RSF, has also been linked to the hiring of Colombian mercenaries. A report alleged that UAE nationals supplying Colombians to the RSF were connected to a high-ranking Emirati figure. The UAE has repeatedly rejected these claims. A British government spokesperson said: "The UK is demanding an immediate end to violence, the protection of non-combatants, and the removal of obstacles to aid delivery." They added that the UK had also imposed restrictions on RSF leaders for their role in the crimes in El Fasher.