🔗 Share this article Colombian Mercenaries in Sudan Allegedly Recruited by British-Based Firms Situated close to a shiny football stadium of Tottenham Hotspur in London lies a plain, nondescript block of flats. Beyond its unremarkable beige brickwork exists a dark reality: a cramped second-floor apartment connected to deadly crimes unfolding thousands of miles to the south. According to British official documents, this one-bedroom flat in north London is connected to a transnational network of firms implicated in the mass recruitment of mercenaries to combat in the African nation alongside paramilitaries charged of myriad atrocities and genocide. Hundreds of Former South American Soldiers Enlisted A large number of ex-soldiers from Colombia have been recruited to serve with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a armed faction blamed for sexual violence, targeted killings, and the widespread killing of civilians. These contractors were key participants in the RSF's seizure of the south-western Sudanese city of El Fasher in recent months, which sparked a wave of violence that experts believe has claimed at least 60,000 lives. As accounts of atrocities mount, connections have been found between the mercenaries contracted to overrun El Fasher and locations in the UK capital. UK Address Linked to Sanctioned Firm The apartment in Tottenham is listed to a corporation called Zeuz Global, established by two people identified and sanctioned last week by the US treasury for hiring contractors to fight for the RSF. Both figures – citizens of Colombia in their fifties – are listed in documents at the UK company registry as resident in the United Kingdom. The firm is active. The following day the United States imposed restrictions on those running the recruitment network, Zeuz Global abruptly moved its registered address to the very heart of London. Its updated address corresponds to a luxury accommodation in Covent Garden. Both hotels stated they had no connection to Zeuz Global and were unaware why the company had used their addresses. "This is of major concern that the primary figures the American authorities claims are orchestrating this mercenary supply have been able to establish a UK company operating from a apartment in north London," said Mike Lewis, a analyst and ex-participant of a United Nations group on Sudan. Questions Raised Over UK Company Oversight Analysts argue the situation raises concerns over how individuals openly censured by the US for "contributing to the civil war in Sudan" were able to apparently establish and operate a firm in the British capital. The UK's top diplomat has condemned the RSF for "systematic killings, abuse and sexual violence" following the faction's seizure of El Fasher. The RSF has been charged by the US with acts of genocide. When questioned about the company, Companies House did not respond on whether it had awareness of the company's operations or confirm the residency status of the penalized people. Reaching out to Zeuz was unsuccessful; its online site, created in May, was labelled as "under construction" with no contact details. Network Led by Retired Officer According to the American authorities, the man at the centre of the South American recruitment operation for the RSF is a dual Colombian-Italian national and retired Colombian military officer based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The US alleges this individual of having a key part in recruiting former Colombian soldiers to be sent to Sudan using a Bogotá-based employment agency. His spouse was also sanctioned for owning and managing the firm. Another individual with two citizenships was similarly censured for managing a business alleged of processing money and payroll for the network employing the Colombian fighters. "During 2024 and 2025, companies in America linked with this individual conducted many bank transactions, totalling millions of US dollars," the US treasury statement said. Firm Establishment and Intensifying Conflict In April of the current year, the sanctioned individuals registered a firm in the UK capital named ODP8 Ltd – later re-branded Zeuz Global. Shortly after, the RSF attacked the Zamzam camp for displaced people, slaughtering over 1,500 innocent people. After its capture, the camp was handed over to Colombian mercenaries, who began preparations for assaulting El Fasher. The sanctioned individuals are listed in Companies House records as holding "starting shares" in the company, with one identified as a key controller. Both list the UK as their "country of residence". Effect on the War and Broader Concerns The hiring of the South Americans has had a profound impact on the course of the conflict, analysts say. These nationals have reportedly instructed minors to be combatants, as well as acting as snipers, infantrymen, instructors, and operators for drones. These drones were instrumental in the capture of El Fasher and during fighting in surrounding areas. "The war in Sudan is a hi-tech one, with precision munitions and long-range drones causing daily civilian deaths," said 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 added that the involvement of penalized persons in a London firm highlighted broader concerns over the absence of rigorous checks when firms are established. "Owning a UK company like this is a passport for bad actors to do business with respectable entities. 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 UK official stated that the recent introduction of "compulsory ID checks" for corporate officers would provide greater assurance about who was establishing and controlling UK firms. The Colombians’ involvement in Sudan first emerged last year, prompting an apology from Colombia’s foreign ministry. One of the mercenaries recently admitted that he had trained children in Sudan and seen combat in El Fasher. The United Arab Emirates, repeatedly alleged of supplying weapons to the RSF, has also been linked to the recruitment of Colombian mercenaries. A report alleged that Emirati business people providing fighters to the RSF were linked to a high-ranking Emirati figure. The UAE has consistently denied these allegations. A British government spokesperson commented: "The UK is calling for an immediate end to atrocities, the safety of non-combatants, and the lifting of barriers to aid delivery." They added that the UK had recently sanctioned RSF commanders for their role in the atrocities in El Fasher.
Situated close to a shiny football stadium of Tottenham Hotspur in London lies a plain, nondescript block of flats. Beyond its unremarkable beige brickwork exists a dark reality: a cramped second-floor apartment connected to deadly crimes unfolding thousands of miles to the south. According to British official documents, this one-bedroom flat in north London is connected to a transnational network of firms implicated in the mass recruitment of mercenaries to combat in the African nation alongside paramilitaries charged of myriad atrocities and genocide. Hundreds of Former South American Soldiers Enlisted A large number of ex-soldiers from Colombia have been recruited to serve with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a armed faction blamed for sexual violence, targeted killings, and the widespread killing of civilians. These contractors were key participants in the RSF's seizure of the south-western Sudanese city of El Fasher in recent months, which sparked a wave of violence that experts believe has claimed at least 60,000 lives. As accounts of atrocities mount, connections have been found between the mercenaries contracted to overrun El Fasher and locations in the UK capital. UK Address Linked to Sanctioned Firm The apartment in Tottenham is listed to a corporation called Zeuz Global, established by two people identified and sanctioned last week by the US treasury for hiring contractors to fight for the RSF. Both figures – citizens of Colombia in their fifties – are listed in documents at the UK company registry as resident in the United Kingdom. The firm is active. The following day the United States imposed restrictions on those running the recruitment network, Zeuz Global abruptly moved its registered address to the very heart of London. Its updated address corresponds to a luxury accommodation in Covent Garden. Both hotels stated they had no connection to Zeuz Global and were unaware why the company had used their addresses. "This is of major concern that the primary figures the American authorities claims are orchestrating this mercenary supply have been able to establish a UK company operating from a apartment in north London," said Mike Lewis, a analyst and ex-participant of a United Nations group on Sudan. Questions Raised Over UK Company Oversight Analysts argue the situation raises concerns over how individuals openly censured by the US for "contributing to the civil war in Sudan" were able to apparently establish and operate a firm in the British capital. The UK's top diplomat has condemned the RSF for "systematic killings, abuse and sexual violence" following the faction's seizure of El Fasher. The RSF has been charged by the US with acts of genocide. When questioned about the company, Companies House did not respond on whether it had awareness of the company's operations or confirm the residency status of the penalized people. Reaching out to Zeuz was unsuccessful; its online site, created in May, was labelled as "under construction" with no contact details. Network Led by Retired Officer According to the American authorities, the man at the centre of the South American recruitment operation for the RSF is a dual Colombian-Italian national and retired Colombian military officer based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The US alleges this individual of having a key part in recruiting former Colombian soldiers to be sent to Sudan using a Bogotá-based employment agency. His spouse was also sanctioned for owning and managing the firm. Another individual with two citizenships was similarly censured for managing a business alleged of processing money and payroll for the network employing the Colombian fighters. "During 2024 and 2025, companies in America linked with this individual conducted many bank transactions, totalling millions of US dollars," the US treasury statement said. Firm Establishment and Intensifying Conflict In April of the current year, the sanctioned individuals registered a firm in the UK capital named ODP8 Ltd – later re-branded Zeuz Global. Shortly after, the RSF attacked the Zamzam camp for displaced people, slaughtering over 1,500 innocent people. After its capture, the camp was handed over to Colombian mercenaries, who began preparations for assaulting El Fasher. The sanctioned individuals are listed in Companies House records as holding "starting shares" in the company, with one identified as a key controller. Both list the UK as their "country of residence". Effect on the War and Broader Concerns The hiring of the South Americans has had a profound impact on the course of the conflict, analysts say. These nationals have reportedly instructed minors to be combatants, as well as acting as snipers, infantrymen, instructors, and operators for drones. These drones were instrumental in the capture of El Fasher and during fighting in surrounding areas. "The war in Sudan is a hi-tech one, with precision munitions and long-range drones causing daily civilian deaths," said 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 added that the involvement of penalized persons in a London firm highlighted broader concerns over the absence of rigorous checks when firms are established. "Owning a UK company like this is a passport for bad actors to do business with respectable entities. 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 UK official stated that the recent introduction of "compulsory ID checks" for corporate officers would provide greater assurance about who was establishing and controlling UK firms. The Colombians’ involvement in Sudan first emerged last year, prompting an apology from Colombia’s foreign ministry. One of the mercenaries recently admitted that he had trained children in Sudan and seen combat in El Fasher. The United Arab Emirates, repeatedly alleged of supplying weapons to the RSF, has also been linked to the recruitment of Colombian mercenaries. A report alleged that Emirati business people providing fighters to the RSF were linked to a high-ranking Emirati figure. The UAE has consistently denied these allegations. A British government spokesperson commented: "The UK is calling for an immediate end to atrocities, the safety of non-combatants, and the lifting of barriers to aid delivery." They added that the UK had recently sanctioned RSF commanders for their role in the atrocities in El Fasher.