🔗 Share this article South American Contractors in the Sudanese Conflict Reportedly Recruited by British-Based Companies Situated near the shiny soccer ground of Tottenham Hotspur in London is a squat, nondescript apartment building. Beyond its ordinary facade lies a grim secret: a small flat linked to deadly atrocities unfolding a vast distance to the south. Per UK government records, this apartment in the capital is connected to a international network of companies implicated in the mass hiring of fighters to fight in the African nation alongside militias accused of numerous war crimes and genocide. Scores of Former South American Soldiers Enlisted Hundreds 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 systematic killing of civilians. These contractors were directly involved in the RSF's capture of the western Sudanese city of El Fasher in late October, which sparked a killing frenzy that experts believe has cost at least 60,000 lives. As reports of atrocities increase, links have been found between the mercenaries contracted to capture El Fasher and addresses in the UK capital. UK Address Linked to Censured Firm The flat in north London is listed to a company named Zeuz Global, set up by two people identified and penalized recently by the American authorities for recruiting Colombian mercenaries to combat for the RSF. Both figures – citizens of Colombia in their 50s – are described in documents at the UK company registry as living in Britain. The company is active. The following day the United States imposed restrictions on those running the recruitment network, Zeuz Global abruptly moved its official location to the centre of central London. Its new postcode matches a five-star hotel in a central district. The establishments in question stated they had no connection to Zeuz Global and were unaware why the company had listed their postcodes. "This is of major concern that the primary figures the US government claims are directing this fighter recruitment have been able to establish a UK company operating from a apartment in the capital," said Mike Lewis, a researcher and former member of a United Nations group on Sudan. Concerns Voiced Over British Firm Oversight Experts say the situation raises questions over how individuals openly censured by the US for "fueling the conflict in Sudan" were able to apparently set up and run a company in the UK capital. The British foreign secretary has condemned the RSF for "organized murder, abuse and sexual violence" following the faction's capture of El Fasher. The RSF has been accused by the US with acts of genocide. When questioned about the company, Companies House did not comment on whether it had knowledge of the company's activities or confirm the residency status of the sanctioned individuals. Reaching out to Zeuz proved unsuccessful; its website, created in spring, was labelled as "being built" 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 citizen of two countries 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 deployed to Sudan using a Colombian employment agency. His wife was also penalized for owning and managing the firm. Another individual with two citizenships was similarly censured for managing a business accused of processing money and salaries for the network employing the Colombian fighters. "In 2024 and 2025, companies in America associated with this individual conducted numerous wire transfers, totalling many millions of US dollars," the US treasury statement read. Company Registration and Escalating Violence In spring of this year, the sanctioned individuals registered a firm in north London named ODP8 Ltd – later re-branded Zeuz Global. Three days later, the RSF assaulted the Zamzam camp for displaced people, killing more than 1,500 civilians. After its capture, the site was handed over to Colombian mercenaries, who began preparations for assaulting El Fasher. The penalized people are listed in Companies House records as holding "starting shares" in the company, with one named as a person of "significant control". Both describe Britain as their "country of residence". Effect on the Conflict and Wider Issues The hiring of the South Americans has had a profound impact on the trajectory of the war, experts state. These fighters have allegedly trained children to be combatants, as well as serving as marksmen, foot soldiers, trainers, and operators for unmanned aircraft. These drones were instrumental in the fall of El Fasher and during fighting in other regions. "The war in Sudan is a hi-tech one, with precision munitions and long-range drones causing daily fatalities," added the analyst. "These systems require outside assistance to operate. We know that the Colombian mercenary operation has been a major component of this outside support." He added that the involvement of penalized persons in a UK company highlighted broader concerns over the absence of rigorous checks when companies are set up. "Having 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 establish a UK company," he said. Official Reaction and Continuing Claims A government source said that the new rollout of "mandatory identity verification" for company directors would provide greater assurance about who was establishing and controlling UK firms. The role of the South Americans in Sudan first emerged last year, leading to an expression of regret from the South American nation's government. One of the fighters recently admitted that he had trained children in Sudan and fought in El Fasher. The UAE, long accused of supplying weapons to the RSF, has also been connected to the hiring of the contractors. A investigation alleged that UAE nationals supplying Colombians to the RSF were linked to a high-ranking Emirati figure. The UAE has repeatedly rejected these allegations. A UK official said: "The UK is demanding an immediate end to violence, the safety of civilians, and the lifting of obstacles to humanitarian access." They added that the UK had also sanctioned RSF leaders for their part in the atrocities in El Fasher.
Situated near the shiny soccer ground of Tottenham Hotspur in London is a squat, nondescript apartment building. Beyond its ordinary facade lies a grim secret: a small flat linked to deadly atrocities unfolding a vast distance to the south. Per UK government records, this apartment in the capital is connected to a international network of companies implicated in the mass hiring of fighters to fight in the African nation alongside militias accused of numerous war crimes and genocide. Scores of Former South American Soldiers Enlisted Hundreds 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 systematic killing of civilians. These contractors were directly involved in the RSF's capture of the western Sudanese city of El Fasher in late October, which sparked a killing frenzy that experts believe has cost at least 60,000 lives. As reports of atrocities increase, links have been found between the mercenaries contracted to capture El Fasher and addresses in the UK capital. UK Address Linked to Censured Firm The flat in north London is listed to a company named Zeuz Global, set up by two people identified and penalized recently by the American authorities for recruiting Colombian mercenaries to combat for the RSF. Both figures – citizens of Colombia in their 50s – are described in documents at the UK company registry as living in Britain. The company is active. The following day the United States imposed restrictions on those running the recruitment network, Zeuz Global abruptly moved its official location to the centre of central London. Its new postcode matches a five-star hotel in a central district. The establishments in question stated they had no connection to Zeuz Global and were unaware why the company had listed their postcodes. "This is of major concern that the primary figures the US government claims are directing this fighter recruitment have been able to establish a UK company operating from a apartment in the capital," said Mike Lewis, a researcher and former member of a United Nations group on Sudan. Concerns Voiced Over British Firm Oversight Experts say the situation raises questions over how individuals openly censured by the US for "fueling the conflict in Sudan" were able to apparently set up and run a company in the UK capital. The British foreign secretary has condemned the RSF for "organized murder, abuse and sexual violence" following the faction's capture of El Fasher. The RSF has been accused by the US with acts of genocide. When questioned about the company, Companies House did not comment on whether it had knowledge of the company's activities or confirm the residency status of the sanctioned individuals. Reaching out to Zeuz proved unsuccessful; its website, created in spring, was labelled as "being built" 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 citizen of two countries 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 deployed to Sudan using a Colombian employment agency. His wife was also penalized for owning and managing the firm. Another individual with two citizenships was similarly censured for managing a business accused of processing money and salaries for the network employing the Colombian fighters. "In 2024 and 2025, companies in America associated with this individual conducted numerous wire transfers, totalling many millions of US dollars," the US treasury statement read. Company Registration and Escalating Violence In spring of this year, the sanctioned individuals registered a firm in north London named ODP8 Ltd – later re-branded Zeuz Global. Three days later, the RSF assaulted the Zamzam camp for displaced people, killing more than 1,500 civilians. After its capture, the site was handed over to Colombian mercenaries, who began preparations for assaulting El Fasher. The penalized people are listed in Companies House records as holding "starting shares" in the company, with one named as a person of "significant control". Both describe Britain as their "country of residence". Effect on the Conflict and Wider Issues The hiring of the South Americans has had a profound impact on the trajectory of the war, experts state. These fighters have allegedly trained children to be combatants, as well as serving as marksmen, foot soldiers, trainers, and operators for unmanned aircraft. These drones were instrumental in the fall of El Fasher and during fighting in other regions. "The war in Sudan is a hi-tech one, with precision munitions and long-range drones causing daily fatalities," added the analyst. "These systems require outside assistance to operate. We know that the Colombian mercenary operation has been a major component of this outside support." He added that the involvement of penalized persons in a UK company highlighted broader concerns over the absence of rigorous checks when companies are set up. "Having 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 establish a UK company," he said. Official Reaction and Continuing Claims A government source said that the new rollout of "mandatory identity verification" for company directors would provide greater assurance about who was establishing and controlling UK firms. The role of the South Americans in Sudan first emerged last year, leading to an expression of regret from the South American nation's government. One of the fighters recently admitted that he had trained children in Sudan and fought in El Fasher. The UAE, long accused of supplying weapons to the RSF, has also been connected to the hiring of the contractors. A investigation alleged that UAE nationals supplying Colombians to the RSF were linked to a high-ranking Emirati figure. The UAE has repeatedly rejected these allegations. A UK official said: "The UK is demanding an immediate end to violence, the safety of civilians, and the lifting of obstacles to humanitarian access." They added that the UK had also sanctioned RSF leaders for their part in the atrocities in El Fasher.