South American Contractors in Sudan Reportedly Recruited by British-Based Firms

Tucked away close to a gleaming soccer ground of Tottenham Hotspur in London is a squat, nondescript apartment building. Beyond its ordinary beige brickwork lies a dark reality: a small flat connected to deadly crimes unfolding thousands of miles to the south.

Per British official documents, this apartment in the capital is tied to a transnational web of companies involved in the mass recruitment of mercenaries to combat in the African nation alongside militias charged of myriad atrocities and ethnic cleansing.

Hundreds of Former Colombian Military Enlisted

A large number of former Colombian military personnel have been enlisted to fight with Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group blamed for mass rapes, ethnic slaughter, and the widespread murder of civilians.

These contractors were key participants in the RSF's seizure of the western Sudanese city of El Fasher in late October, which triggered a wave of violence that experts believe has cost over 60,000 lives.

As accounts of atrocities increase, links have been found between the mercenaries contracted to overrun El Fasher and addresses in the city of London.

UK Address Connected to Censured Company

The apartment in Tottenham is registered to a corporation named Zeuz Global, set up by two people identified and penalized recently by the US treasury for recruiting contractors to combat for the RSF.

Both individuals – citizens of Colombia in their fifties – are listed in documents at Companies House as living in the United Kingdom.

The firm remains active. The following day the United States announced restrictions on those running the recruitment network, Zeuz Global abruptly moved its official location to the centre of London. Its new postcode matches a luxury accommodation in a central district.

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

"It is of major concern that the key individuals the US government states are orchestrating this fighter recruitment have been able to set up a UK company based from a flat in north London," stated Mike Lewis, a analyst and ex-participant of a UN panel on Sudan.

Questions Raised Over UK Company Checks

Experts say the situation raises concerns over how individuals publicly sanctioned by the US for "contributing to the conflict in Sudan" were able to apparently set up and run a firm in the UK capital.

The British foreign secretary has condemned the RSF for "systematic killings, abuse 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, Companies House did not comment on whether it had awareness of the company's operations or verify the residency status of the penalized people.

Reaching out to Zeuz was fruitless; its online site, set up in spring, was labelled as "being built" with lacking information.

Network Led by Former Soldier

According to the American authorities, the man at the centre of the Colombian recruiting network for the RSF is a dual Colombian-Italian national and former army officer based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The US accuses this individual of playing a central role in hiring former Colombian soldiers to be deployed to Sudan using a Bogotá-based recruitment firm. His spouse was also sanctioned for running the agency.

Another individual with two citizenships was similarly censured for managing a business alleged of processing money and salaries for the network hiring the mercenaries.

"In 2024 and 2025, US-based firms associated with this individual conducted numerous bank transactions, amounting to millions of US dollars," the official announcement said.

Firm Establishment and Escalating Violence

In April of the current year, the penalized figures set up a firm in the UK capital called ODP8 Ltd – later re-branded Zeuz Global.

Shortly after, the RSF assaulted the Zamzam displacement camp, slaughtering over 1,500 innocent people. After its capture, the site was transferred to Colombian mercenaries, who began preparations for assaulting El Fasher.

The penalized people are named in Companies House records as owning "starting shares" in the firm, with one named as a person of "significant control".

Both describe the UK as their "country of residence".

Effect on the Conflict and Broader Concerns

The recruitment of the Colombians has had a profound impact on the trajectory of the war, experts state. These fighters have allegedly instructed minors to be soldiers, as well as acting as marksmen, foot soldiers, trainers, and operators for drones.

These drones proved key in the capture of El Fasher and during fighting in other regions.

"The war in Sudan is a technologically advanced one, with guided weapons and remote aircraft causing regular civilian deaths," added the expert. "These weapons require external help 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 London firm underlined broader concerns over the absence of rigorous checks when companies are set up.

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

Official Reaction and Ongoing Allegations

A UK official said that the recent introduction of "compulsory ID checks" for corporate officers would provide more confidence about who was establishing and running UK companies.

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, long accused of arming the RSF, has also been connected to the recruitment of Colombian mercenaries. A investigation alleged that UAE nationals providing fighters to the RSF were linked to a senior UAE government official. The UAE has repeatedly rejected these claims.

A UK official commented: "The UK is demanding an halt to atrocities, the safety of non-combatants, and the lifting of obstacles to humanitarian access."

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