🔗 Share this article Colombian Mercenaries in Sudan Allegedly Recruited by British-Based Firms Tucked away close to a shiny football stadium of a Premier League club in the British capital lies a plain, nondescript block of flats. Beyond its unremarkable beige brickwork lies a dark secret: a cramped flat connected to deadly atrocities unfolding a vast distance to the south. Per British official documents, this one-bedroom flat in the capital is tied to a transnational web of companies involved in the large-scale hiring of mercenaries to fight in the African nation alongside militias charged of numerous atrocities and genocide. Hundreds of Ex- South American Soldiers Enlisted Hundreds of ex-soldiers from Colombia have been enlisted to fight with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a armed faction blamed for sexual violence, targeted killings, and the widespread killing of civilians. These contractors were directly involved in the paramilitaries’ capture of the western Sudanese city of El Fasher in late October, which sparked a killing frenzy that analysts say has claimed over 60,000 lives. While reports of atrocities increase, connections have been found between the fighters contracted to capture El Fasher and locations in the city of London. London Flat Linked to Censured Company The apartment in Tottenham is listed to a company named Zeuz Global, established by two people named and penalized last week by the US treasury for recruiting Colombian mercenaries to combat for the RSF. Both individuals – Colombian nationals in their 50s – are listed in documents at the UK company registry as resident in Britain. The firm is operational. The day after the United States announced sanctions on those behind 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 Covent Garden. Both hotels said they had no link to Zeuz Global and had no idea why the firm had used their addresses. "This is of major concern that the key individuals the American authorities states are orchestrating this mercenary supply have been able to establish a UK company based from a flat in north London," said Mike Lewis, a researcher and former member of a UN panel on Sudan. Concerns Voiced Over UK Company Checks Experts argue the situation highlights questions over how individuals publicly sanctioned by the US for "contributing to the conflict in Sudan" were able to seemingly set up and run a firm in the UK capital. The UK's top diplomat has condemned the RSF for "systematic killings, abuse and sexual violence" following the group’s capture of El Fasher. The RSF has been charged by the US with acts of genocide. When asked about Zeuz Global, the registry did not respond on whether it had knowledge of the company's operations or verify the location of the sanctioned individuals. Reaching out to Zeuz was fruitless; its online site, created in spring, was labelled as "under construction" with lacking information. Network Led by Former Soldier Per the US treasury, the figure at the heart of the South American recruitment operation for the RSF is a dual Colombian-Italian national and retired Colombian military officer based in the Gulf state. The US alleges this individual of having a key part in hiring ex-military personnel to be sent to Sudan using a Bogotá-based employment agency. His spouse was also sanctioned for running the firm. Another individual with two citizenships was similarly censured for overseeing a company alleged of processing money and payroll for the network hiring the Colombian fighters. "In 2024 and 2025, companies in America linked with this individual conducted numerous bank transactions, amounting to many millions of US dollars," the US treasury statement said. Firm Establishment and Escalating Violence In April of the current year, the sanctioned individuals set up a company in north London called ODP8 Ltd – later renamed Zeuz Global. Three days later, the RSF assaulted the Zamzam camp for displaced people, slaughtering over 1,500 innocent people. After its seizure, the site was handed over to Colombian mercenaries, who began planning for assaulting El Fasher. The sanctioned individuals are listed in official UK documents as owning "starting shares" in the firm, with one named as a key controller. Both describe Britain as their "country of residence". Effect on the Conflict and Broader Concerns The hiring of the South Americans has had a profound impact on the course of the conflict, experts state. These fighters have reportedly trained children to be combatants, as well as acting as snipers, foot soldiers, trainers, and pilots for drones. These aircraft proved key in the fall of El Fasher and during combat in surrounding areas. "The war in Sudan is a hi-tech one, with guided weapons and long-range drones causing daily civilian deaths," added the analyst. "These systems require external help to operate. We know that the recruitment network has been a major component of this outside support." He noted that the involvement of penalized persons in a UK company highlighted wider worries over the absence of strict vetting when firms are set up. "Having a UK company like this is a passport for bad actors to do business with legitimate counterparts. It's still more difficult to join a fitness centre in most cases than to establish a UK company," he said. Official Reaction and Continuing Claims A government source stated that the recent introduction of "mandatory identity verification" for corporate officers would provide greater assurance about who was setting up and running UK firms. The Colombians’ involvement in Sudan first came to light last year, prompting 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, repeatedly alleged of supplying weapons to the RSF, has also been connected to the recruitment of Colombian mercenaries. A investigation alleged that UAE nationals supplying Colombians to the RSF were connected to a high-ranking Emirati figure. The UAE has consistently denied these claims. A British government spokesperson said: "The UK is demanding an immediate end to violence, the safety of civilians, and the removal of obstacles to aid delivery." They noted that the UK had also imposed restrictions on RSF commanders for their part in the crimes in El Fasher.
Tucked away close to a shiny football stadium of a Premier League club in the British capital lies a plain, nondescript block of flats. Beyond its unremarkable beige brickwork lies a dark secret: a cramped flat connected to deadly atrocities unfolding a vast distance to the south. Per British official documents, this one-bedroom flat in the capital is tied to a transnational web of companies involved in the large-scale hiring of mercenaries to fight in the African nation alongside militias charged of numerous atrocities and genocide. Hundreds of Ex- South American Soldiers Enlisted Hundreds of ex-soldiers from Colombia have been enlisted to fight with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a armed faction blamed for sexual violence, targeted killings, and the widespread killing of civilians. These contractors were directly involved in the paramilitaries’ capture of the western Sudanese city of El Fasher in late October, which sparked a killing frenzy that analysts say has claimed over 60,000 lives. While reports of atrocities increase, connections have been found between the fighters contracted to capture El Fasher and locations in the city of London. London Flat Linked to Censured Company The apartment in Tottenham is listed to a company named Zeuz Global, established by two people named and penalized last week by the US treasury for recruiting Colombian mercenaries to combat for the RSF. Both individuals – Colombian nationals in their 50s – are listed in documents at the UK company registry as resident in Britain. The firm is operational. The day after the United States announced sanctions on those behind 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 Covent Garden. Both hotels said they had no link to Zeuz Global and had no idea why the firm had used their addresses. "This is of major concern that the key individuals the American authorities states are orchestrating this mercenary supply have been able to establish a UK company based from a flat in north London," said Mike Lewis, a researcher and former member of a UN panel on Sudan. Concerns Voiced Over UK Company Checks Experts argue the situation highlights questions over how individuals publicly sanctioned by the US for "contributing to the conflict in Sudan" were able to seemingly set up and run a firm in the UK capital. The UK's top diplomat has condemned the RSF for "systematic killings, abuse and sexual violence" following the group’s capture of El Fasher. The RSF has been charged by the US with acts of genocide. When asked about Zeuz Global, the registry did not respond on whether it had knowledge of the company's operations or verify the location of the sanctioned individuals. Reaching out to Zeuz was fruitless; its online site, created in spring, was labelled as "under construction" with lacking information. Network Led by Former Soldier Per the US treasury, the figure at the heart of the South American recruitment operation for the RSF is a dual Colombian-Italian national and retired Colombian military officer based in the Gulf state. The US alleges this individual of having a key part in hiring ex-military personnel to be sent to Sudan using a Bogotá-based employment agency. His spouse was also sanctioned for running the firm. Another individual with two citizenships was similarly censured for overseeing a company alleged of processing money and payroll for the network hiring the Colombian fighters. "In 2024 and 2025, companies in America linked with this individual conducted numerous bank transactions, amounting to many millions of US dollars," the US treasury statement said. Firm Establishment and Escalating Violence In April of the current year, the sanctioned individuals set up a company in north London called ODP8 Ltd – later renamed Zeuz Global. Three days later, the RSF assaulted the Zamzam camp for displaced people, slaughtering over 1,500 innocent people. After its seizure, the site was handed over to Colombian mercenaries, who began planning for assaulting El Fasher. The sanctioned individuals are listed in official UK documents as owning "starting shares" in the firm, with one named as a key controller. Both describe Britain as their "country of residence". Effect on the Conflict and Broader Concerns The hiring of the South Americans has had a profound impact on the course of the conflict, experts state. These fighters have reportedly trained children to be combatants, as well as acting as snipers, foot soldiers, trainers, and pilots for drones. These aircraft proved key in the fall of El Fasher and during combat in surrounding areas. "The war in Sudan is a hi-tech one, with guided weapons and long-range drones causing daily civilian deaths," added the analyst. "These systems require external help to operate. We know that the recruitment network has been a major component of this outside support." He noted that the involvement of penalized persons in a UK company highlighted wider worries over the absence of strict vetting when firms are set up. "Having a UK company like this is a passport for bad actors to do business with legitimate counterparts. It's still more difficult to join a fitness centre in most cases than to establish a UK company," he said. Official Reaction and Continuing Claims A government source stated that the recent introduction of "mandatory identity verification" for corporate officers would provide greater assurance about who was setting up and running UK firms. The Colombians’ involvement in Sudan first came to light last year, prompting 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, repeatedly alleged of supplying weapons to the RSF, has also been connected to the recruitment of Colombian mercenaries. A investigation alleged that UAE nationals supplying Colombians to the RSF were connected to a high-ranking Emirati figure. The UAE has consistently denied these claims. A British government spokesperson said: "The UK is demanding an immediate end to violence, the safety of civilians, and the removal of obstacles to aid delivery." They noted that the UK had also imposed restrictions on RSF commanders for their part in the crimes in El Fasher.