South American Contractors in the Sudanese Conflict Allegedly Recruited by British-Based Firms

Situated close to the shiny soccer ground of Tottenham Hotspur in the British capital lies a squat, nondescript block of flats. Beyond its ordinary facade lies a grim secret: a cramped flat linked to murderous crimes unfolding a vast distance to the south.

Per British official documents, this one-bedroom flat in the capital is connected to a international network of firms implicated in the mass hiring of mercenaries to fight in the African nation alongside militias charged of numerous war crimes and ethnic cleansing.

Hundreds of Former South American Soldiers Enlisted

A large number of ex-soldiers from Colombia have been enlisted to fight with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a armed faction responsible for mass rapes, targeted killings, and the systematic killing of civilians.

Colombian mercenaries were directly involved in the RSF's capture of the western Sudanese city of El Fasher in late October, which triggered a wave of violence that analysts say has cost over 60,000 lives.

While accounts of violence increase, links have been identified between the mercenaries hired to capture El Fasher and locations in the UK capital.

UK Address Connected to Sanctioned Company

The apartment in north London is listed to a company named Zeuz Global, set up by two individuals named and sanctioned last week by the US treasury for recruiting Colombian mercenaries to combat for the RSF.

Both figures – Colombian nationals in their 50s – are listed in documents at Companies House as resident in Britain.

The company is operational. The day after the US treasury announced sanctions on those running the recruitment network, Zeuz Global abruptly moved its official location to the very heart of central London. Its updated address matches one luxury accommodation in a central district.

The establishments in question said they had no link to Zeuz Global and had no idea why the company had used their addresses.

"It is of serious worry that the primary figures the American authorities claims are directing this mercenary supply have been able to establish a UK company based from a flat in north London," said Mike Lewis, a analyst and former member of a United Nations group on Sudan.

Questions Raised Over British Firm Oversight

Analysts say the saga raises concerns over how people openly censured by the US for "contributing to the civil war in Sudan" were able to seemingly set up and run a company in the UK capital.

The British foreign secretary has censured the RSF for "systematic killings, torture and sexual violence" following the group’s seizure of El Fasher. The RSF has been accused by the US with genocide.

When questioned about the company, the registry did not respond on whether it had knowledge of the company's activities or verify the residency status of the penalized people.

Contacting Zeuz proved unsuccessful; its online site, created in spring, was labelled as "being built" with no contact details.

Network Headed by Former Soldier

According to the US treasury, the figure at the centre of the South American recruitment operation for the RSF is a dual Colombian-Italian national and retired Colombian military officer located in the Gulf state.

The US accuses this individual of playing a key part in recruiting former Colombian soldiers to be sent to Sudan using a Colombian recruitment firm. His spouse was also sanctioned for owning and managing the agency.

Another dual national was similarly censured for managing a business alleged of handling funds and payroll for the network employing the Colombian fighters.

"In 2024 and 2025, US-based firms associated with this individual conducted many bank transactions, totalling many millions of US dollars," the US treasury statement said.

Company Registration and Intensifying Conflict

In spring of this year, the sanctioned individuals registered a company in the UK capital named ODP8 Ltd – later re-branded Zeuz Global.

Shortly after, the RSF attacked the Zamzam displacement camp, killing over 1,500 civilians. After its capture, the site was handed over to the hired fighters, who began planning for attacking El Fasher.

The sanctioned individuals are named in Companies House records as holding "starting shares" in the firm, with one identified as a key controller.

Both describe the UK as their "place of residency".

Impact on the War and Broader Concerns

The hiring of the South Americans has had a significant effect on the course of the conflict, analysts say. These fighters have allegedly instructed minors to be combatants, as well as serving as marksmen, foot soldiers, trainers, and pilots for drones.

These aircraft proved instrumental in the capture of El Fasher and during combat in other regions.

"The war in Sudan is a hi-tech one, with guided weapons and long-range drones causing daily civilian deaths," added the analyst. "These weapons require outside assistance to operate. We know that the recruitment network has been a significant part of this outside support."

He added that the involvement of penalized persons in a UK company highlighted wider worries over the lack of strict vetting when firms are set up.

"Owning a UK company like this is a passport for criminals to do business with respectable entities. It's still harder to join a fitness centre in most cases than to set up a UK company," he stated.

Government Response and Ongoing Allegations

A government source stated that the new rollout of "mandatory identity verification" for company directors would provide greater assurance about who was setting up and controlling UK companies.

The Colombians’ involvement in Sudan first emerged 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 United Arab Emirates, repeatedly alleged of arming the RSF, has also been connected to the hiring of the contractors. A investigation alleged that Emirati business people supplying Colombians to the RSF were linked to a senior UAE government official. The UAE has repeatedly rejected these allegations.

A British government spokesperson commented: "The UK is calling for an halt to violence, the safety of non-combatants, and the removal of obstacles to humanitarian access."

They noted that the UK had recently imposed restrictions on RSF commanders for their role in the crimes in El Fasher.