🔗 Share this article Colombian Mercenaries in the Sudanese Conflict Reportedly Recruited by British-Based Companies Tucked away near a gleaming soccer ground of Tottenham Hotspur in London lies a plain, unremarkable block of flats. Behind its ordinary facade exists a dark secret: a cramped second-floor apartment linked to murderous atrocities unfolding a vast distance to the south. According to British official documents, this one-bedroom flat in north London is tied to a transnational web of companies involved in the large-scale hiring of fighters to combat in Sudan alongside paramilitaries charged of numerous war crimes and genocide. Scores of Former South American Soldiers Recruited Hundreds of ex-soldiers from Colombia have been recruited to fight with Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a armed faction responsible for sexual violence, targeted killings, and the systematic murder of women and children. These contractors were directly involved in the RSF's capture of the south-western Sudanese city of El Fasher in recent months, which sparked a killing frenzy that analysts say has claimed at least 60,000 lives. While accounts of atrocities increase, links have been identified between the fighters hired to capture El Fasher and addresses in the city of London. London Flat Linked to Sanctioned Firm The flat in north London is listed to a corporation named Zeuz Global, established by two individuals named and sanctioned recently by the American authorities for hiring Colombian mercenaries to combat for the RSF. Both individuals – Colombian nationals in their fifties – are listed in documents at the UK company registry as living in the United Kingdom. The company remains active. The following day the US treasury imposed restrictions on those running the recruitment network, Zeuz Global abruptly moved its official location to the very heart of London. Its updated address corresponds to one luxury accommodation in a central district. Both hotels stated they had no connection to Zeuz Global and were unaware why the company had listed their addresses. "This is of major concern that the primary figures the American authorities states are orchestrating 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 former member of a United Nations group on Sudan. Concerns Voiced Over UK Company Checks Analysts say the situation highlights concerns over how individuals publicly sanctioned by the US for "fueling the civil war in Sudan" were able to seemingly establish and operate a firm in the UK capital. The UK's top diplomat has condemned the RSF for "systematic killings, abuse and sexual violence" following the faction's capture of El Fasher. The RSF has been accused by the US with acts of genocide. When asked about the company, the registry did not comment on whether it had awareness of the firm’s operations or confirm the residency status of the penalized people. Reaching out to Zeuz was unsuccessful; its website, set up in spring, was marked as "under construction" with lacking information. Network Led by Retired Officer Per the American authorities, the man at the centre of the Colombian recruiting network for the RSF is a citizen of two countries and retired Colombian military officer based in the Gulf state. The US alleges this individual of having a central role in hiring ex-military personnel to be deployed to Sudan using a Colombian recruitment firm. His spouse was also sanctioned for running the firm. Another individual with two citizenships was also sanctioned for managing a company alleged of handling funds and payroll for the operation employing the mercenaries. "In 2024 and 2025, US-based firms linked with this individual conducted numerous bank transactions, amounting to millions of US dollars," the official announcement read. Firm Establishment and Intensifying Conflict In April of this year, the sanctioned individuals registered a company in north London called ODP8 Ltd – later renamed Zeuz Global. Shortly after, the RSF attacked the Zamzam displacement camp, killing more than 1,500 civilians. After its capture, the site was handed over to Colombian mercenaries, who began planning for attacking El Fasher. The sanctioned individuals are listed in Companies House records as owning "initial shareholdings" in the firm, with one named as a key controller. Both describe the UK as their "place of residency". Effect on the War and Wider Issues The recruitment of the South Americans has had a profound impact on the trajectory of the war, experts state. These nationals have allegedly trained children to be soldiers, as well as serving as snipers, infantrymen, instructors, and pilots for unmanned aircraft. These aircraft proved instrumental in the capture of El Fasher and during combat in other regions. "The war in Sudan is a technologically advanced one, with precision munitions and remote aircraft causing daily civilian deaths," said the expert. "These systems require external help to operate. We know that the Colombian mercenary operation has been a major component of this external assistance." He noted that the involvement of penalized persons in a UK company underlined broader concerns over the absence of rigorous checks when firms are set up. "Having a UK company like this is a license for bad actors to do deals with respectable entities. It's still more difficult to join a gym in most cases than to set up a UK company," he stated. Government Response and Ongoing Allegations A UK official said that the new rollout of "mandatory identity verification" for corporate officers would provide more confidence about who was establishing and controlling UK firms. The role of the South Americans in Sudan first came to light last year, leading to an apology from Colombia’s foreign ministry. One of the fighters recently confirmed that he had trained children in Sudan and fought in El Fasher. The UAE, long accused of supplying weapons to the RSF, has also been connected to the recruitment of Colombian mercenaries. A investigation alleged that Emirati business people supplying Colombians to the RSF were linked to a high-ranking Emirati figure. The UAE has consistently denied these allegations. A British government spokesperson said: "The UK is calling for an immediate end to violence, the protection of non-combatants, and the removal of obstacles to humanitarian access." They added that the UK had recently sanctioned RSF leaders for their part in the crimes in El Fasher.
Tucked away near a gleaming soccer ground of Tottenham Hotspur in London lies a plain, unremarkable block of flats. Behind its ordinary facade exists a dark secret: a cramped second-floor apartment linked to murderous atrocities unfolding a vast distance to the south. According to British official documents, this one-bedroom flat in north London is tied to a transnational web of companies involved in the large-scale hiring of fighters to combat in Sudan alongside paramilitaries charged of numerous war crimes and genocide. Scores of Former South American Soldiers Recruited Hundreds of ex-soldiers from Colombia have been recruited to fight with Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a armed faction responsible for sexual violence, targeted killings, and the systematic murder of women and children. These contractors were directly involved in the RSF's capture of the south-western Sudanese city of El Fasher in recent months, which sparked a killing frenzy that analysts say has claimed at least 60,000 lives. While accounts of atrocities increase, links have been identified between the fighters hired to capture El Fasher and addresses in the city of London. London Flat Linked to Sanctioned Firm The flat in north London is listed to a corporation named Zeuz Global, established by two individuals named and sanctioned recently by the American authorities for hiring Colombian mercenaries to combat for the RSF. Both individuals – Colombian nationals in their fifties – are listed in documents at the UK company registry as living in the United Kingdom. The company remains active. The following day the US treasury imposed restrictions on those running the recruitment network, Zeuz Global abruptly moved its official location to the very heart of London. Its updated address corresponds to one luxury accommodation in a central district. Both hotels stated they had no connection to Zeuz Global and were unaware why the company had listed their addresses. "This is of major concern that the primary figures the American authorities states are orchestrating 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 former member of a United Nations group on Sudan. Concerns Voiced Over UK Company Checks Analysts say the situation highlights concerns over how individuals publicly sanctioned by the US for "fueling the civil war in Sudan" were able to seemingly establish and operate a firm in the UK capital. The UK's top diplomat has condemned the RSF for "systematic killings, abuse and sexual violence" following the faction's capture of El Fasher. The RSF has been accused by the US with acts of genocide. When asked about the company, the registry did not comment on whether it had awareness of the firm’s operations or confirm the residency status of the penalized people. Reaching out to Zeuz was unsuccessful; its website, set up in spring, was marked as "under construction" with lacking information. Network Led by Retired Officer Per the American authorities, the man at the centre of the Colombian recruiting network for the RSF is a citizen of two countries and retired Colombian military officer based in the Gulf state. The US alleges this individual of having a central role in hiring ex-military personnel to be deployed to Sudan using a Colombian recruitment firm. His spouse was also sanctioned for running the firm. Another individual with two citizenships was also sanctioned for managing a company alleged of handling funds and payroll for the operation employing the mercenaries. "In 2024 and 2025, US-based firms linked with this individual conducted numerous bank transactions, amounting to millions of US dollars," the official announcement read. Firm Establishment and Intensifying Conflict In April of this year, the sanctioned individuals registered a company in north London called ODP8 Ltd – later renamed Zeuz Global. Shortly after, the RSF attacked the Zamzam displacement camp, killing more than 1,500 civilians. After its capture, the site was handed over to Colombian mercenaries, who began planning for attacking El Fasher. The sanctioned individuals are listed in Companies House records as owning "initial shareholdings" in the firm, with one named as a key controller. Both describe the UK as their "place of residency". Effect on the War and Wider Issues The recruitment of the South Americans has had a profound impact on the trajectory of the war, experts state. These nationals have allegedly trained children to be soldiers, as well as serving as snipers, infantrymen, instructors, and pilots for unmanned aircraft. These aircraft proved instrumental in the capture of El Fasher and during combat in other regions. "The war in Sudan is a technologically advanced one, with precision munitions and remote aircraft causing daily civilian deaths," said the expert. "These systems require external help to operate. We know that the Colombian mercenary operation has been a major component of this external assistance." He noted that the involvement of penalized persons in a UK company underlined broader concerns over the absence of rigorous checks when firms are set up. "Having a UK company like this is a license for bad actors to do deals with respectable entities. It's still more difficult to join a gym in most cases than to set up a UK company," he stated. Government Response and Ongoing Allegations A UK official said that the new rollout of "mandatory identity verification" for corporate officers would provide more confidence about who was establishing and controlling UK firms. The role of the South Americans in Sudan first came to light last year, leading to an apology from Colombia’s foreign ministry. One of the fighters recently confirmed that he had trained children in Sudan and fought in El Fasher. The UAE, long accused of supplying weapons to the RSF, has also been connected to the recruitment of Colombian mercenaries. A investigation alleged that Emirati business people supplying Colombians to the RSF were linked to a high-ranking Emirati figure. The UAE has consistently denied these allegations. A British government spokesperson said: "The UK is calling for an immediate end to violence, the protection of non-combatants, and the removal of obstacles to humanitarian access." They added that the UK had recently sanctioned RSF leaders for their part in the crimes in El Fasher.