🔗 Share this article Colombian Mercenaries in the Sudanese Conflict Allegedly Recruited by UK-Registered Firms Situated close to the shiny football stadium of Tottenham Hotspur in the British capital lies a plain, unremarkable apartment building. Behind its unremarkable facade exists a dark secret: a cramped second-floor apartment linked to deadly atrocities taking place thousands of miles to the south. Per UK government records, this apartment in north London is tied to a transnational network of firms implicated in the mass hiring of fighters to combat in Sudan alongside paramilitaries accused of myriad war crimes and genocide. Hundreds of Ex- South American Soldiers Recruited A large number of former Colombian military personnel have been enlisted to serve with Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group responsible for sexual violence, ethnic slaughter, and the widespread killing of women and children. These contractors were directly involved in the paramilitaries’ capture of the south-western Sudanese city of El Fasher in recent months, which triggered a wave of violence that analysts say has cost over 60,000 lives. While reports of atrocities increase, links have been found between the fighters contracted to overrun El Fasher and addresses in the city of London. UK Address Linked to Censured Firm The flat in Tottenham is registered to a company named Zeuz Global, set up by two people named and sanctioned last week by the American authorities for hiring contractors to fight for the RSF. Both figures – Colombian nationals in their 50s – are described in records at Companies House as living in Britain. The firm remains operational. The day after the United States announced sanctions on those behind the Colombian mercenary operation, Zeuz Global suddenly relocated its official location to the very heart of central London. Its updated address corresponds to a luxury accommodation in Covent Garden. The establishments in question stated they had no connection to Zeuz Global and were unaware why the company had used their addresses. "This is of serious worry that the key individuals the US government claims are orchestrating this fighter recruitment have been able to establish a UK company based from a apartment in north London," said Mike Lewis, a researcher and ex-participant of a United Nations group on Sudan. Concerns Voiced Over UK Company Checks Analysts say the saga raises questions over how people publicly sanctioned by the US for "contributing to the conflict in Sudan" were able to seemingly set up and run a company in the UK capital. The UK's top diplomat has censured the RSF for "systematic killings, abuse and sexual violence" following the group’s capture of El Fasher. The RSF has been accused by the US with acts of genocide. When asked about Zeuz Global, Companies House did not comment on whether it had knowledge of the firm’s operations or verify the residency status of the sanctioned individuals. Contacting Zeuz was unsuccessful; its website, set up in May, was labelled as "under construction" with lacking information. Network Headed by Former Soldier Per the US treasury, the man at the centre of the Colombian recruiting network for the RSF is a dual Colombian-Italian national and retired Colombian military officer located in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The US accuses this individual of playing a central role in hiring ex-military personnel to be sent to Sudan using a Bogotá-based recruitment firm. His spouse was also sanctioned for running the agency. Another individual with two citizenships was also sanctioned for managing a business accused of handling funds and salaries for the operation hiring the Colombian fighters. "During 2024 and 2025, US-based firms associated with this individual engaged in numerous bank transactions, totalling many millions of US dollars," the official announcement said. Firm Establishment and Escalating Violence In spring of the current year, the penalized figures registered a firm in north London called ODP8 Ltd – later re-branded Zeuz Global. Shortly after, the RSF attacked the Zamzam camp for displaced people, slaughtering over 1,500 civilians. After its seizure, the camp was handed over to the hired fighters, who began preparations for assaulting El Fasher. The sanctioned individuals are named in official UK documents as holding "starting shares" in the company, with one identified as a key controller. Both list Britain as their "place of residency". Impact on the Conflict and Wider Issues The hiring of the South Americans has had a profound impact on the course of the war, experts state. These nationals have reportedly trained children to be soldiers, as well as serving as snipers, foot soldiers, trainers, and operators for unmanned aircraft. These drones 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 long-range drones causing regular civilian deaths," said the analyst. "These weapons require outside assistance to operate. We know that the Colombian mercenary operation has been a significant part of this external assistance." He added that the participation of penalized persons in a London firm highlighted wider worries over the absence of rigorous checks when companies are established. "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 establish a UK company," he stated. Official Reaction and Continuing Claims A UK official stated that the recent introduction of "mandatory identity verification" for corporate officers would provide greater assurance about who was establishing and running UK companies. The role of the South Americans in Sudan first emerged last year, leading to an apology from Colombia’s foreign ministry. One of the mercenaries recently confirmed that he had instructed minors 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 the contractors. A investigation alleged that Emirati business people providing Colombians to the RSF were connected to a senior UAE government official. The UAE has repeatedly rejected these allegations. A UK official said: "The UK is calling for an immediate end to atrocities, the safety of civilians, and the removal of barriers to humanitarian access." They noted that the UK had recently sanctioned RSF commanders for their role in the atrocities in El Fasher.
Situated close to the shiny football stadium of Tottenham Hotspur in the British capital lies a plain, unremarkable apartment building. Behind its unremarkable facade exists a dark secret: a cramped second-floor apartment linked to deadly atrocities taking place thousands of miles to the south. Per UK government records, this apartment in north London is tied to a transnational network of firms implicated in the mass hiring of fighters to combat in Sudan alongside paramilitaries accused of myriad war crimes and genocide. Hundreds of Ex- South American Soldiers Recruited A large number of former Colombian military personnel have been enlisted to serve with Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group responsible for sexual violence, ethnic slaughter, and the widespread killing of women and children. These contractors were directly involved in the paramilitaries’ capture of the south-western Sudanese city of El Fasher in recent months, which triggered a wave of violence that analysts say has cost over 60,000 lives. While reports of atrocities increase, links have been found between the fighters contracted to overrun El Fasher and addresses in the city of London. UK Address Linked to Censured Firm The flat in Tottenham is registered to a company named Zeuz Global, set up by two people named and sanctioned last week by the American authorities for hiring contractors to fight for the RSF. Both figures – Colombian nationals in their 50s – are described in records at Companies House as living in Britain. The firm remains operational. The day after the United States announced sanctions on those behind the Colombian mercenary operation, Zeuz Global suddenly relocated its official location to the very heart of central London. Its updated address corresponds to a luxury accommodation in Covent Garden. The establishments in question stated they had no connection to Zeuz Global and were unaware why the company had used their addresses. "This is of serious worry that the key individuals the US government claims are orchestrating this fighter recruitment have been able to establish a UK company based from a apartment in north London," said Mike Lewis, a researcher and ex-participant of a United Nations group on Sudan. Concerns Voiced Over UK Company Checks Analysts say the saga raises questions over how people publicly sanctioned by the US for "contributing to the conflict in Sudan" were able to seemingly set up and run a company in the UK capital. The UK's top diplomat has censured the RSF for "systematic killings, abuse and sexual violence" following the group’s capture of El Fasher. The RSF has been accused by the US with acts of genocide. When asked about Zeuz Global, Companies House did not comment on whether it had knowledge of the firm’s operations or verify the residency status of the sanctioned individuals. Contacting Zeuz was unsuccessful; its website, set up in May, was labelled as "under construction" with lacking information. Network Headed by Former Soldier Per the US treasury, the man at the centre of the Colombian recruiting network for the RSF is a dual Colombian-Italian national and retired Colombian military officer located in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The US accuses this individual of playing a central role in hiring ex-military personnel to be sent to Sudan using a Bogotá-based recruitment firm. His spouse was also sanctioned for running the agency. Another individual with two citizenships was also sanctioned for managing a business accused of handling funds and salaries for the operation hiring the Colombian fighters. "During 2024 and 2025, US-based firms associated with this individual engaged in numerous bank transactions, totalling many millions of US dollars," the official announcement said. Firm Establishment and Escalating Violence In spring of the current year, the penalized figures registered a firm in north London called ODP8 Ltd – later re-branded Zeuz Global. Shortly after, the RSF attacked the Zamzam camp for displaced people, slaughtering over 1,500 civilians. After its seizure, the camp was handed over to the hired fighters, who began preparations for assaulting El Fasher. The sanctioned individuals are named in official UK documents as holding "starting shares" in the company, with one identified as a key controller. Both list Britain as their "place of residency". Impact on the Conflict and Wider Issues The hiring of the South Americans has had a profound impact on the course of the war, experts state. These nationals have reportedly trained children to be soldiers, as well as serving as snipers, foot soldiers, trainers, and operators for unmanned aircraft. These drones 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 long-range drones causing regular civilian deaths," said the analyst. "These weapons require outside assistance to operate. We know that the Colombian mercenary operation has been a significant part of this external assistance." He added that the participation of penalized persons in a London firm highlighted wider worries over the absence of rigorous checks when companies are established. "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 establish a UK company," he stated. Official Reaction and Continuing Claims A UK official stated that the recent introduction of "mandatory identity verification" for corporate officers would provide greater assurance about who was establishing and running UK companies. The role of the South Americans in Sudan first emerged last year, leading to an apology from Colombia’s foreign ministry. One of the mercenaries recently confirmed that he had instructed minors 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 the contractors. A investigation alleged that Emirati business people providing Colombians to the RSF were connected to a senior UAE government official. The UAE has repeatedly rejected these allegations. A UK official said: "The UK is calling for an immediate end to atrocities, the safety of civilians, and the removal of barriers to humanitarian access." They noted that the UK had recently sanctioned RSF commanders for their role in the atrocities in El Fasher.