Colombian Contractors in Sudan Allegedly Recruited by UK-Registered Companies

Tucked away close to the gleaming soccer ground of a Premier League club in the British capital lies a plain, nondescript block of flats. Beyond its unremarkable facade lies a grim reality: a cramped flat linked to deadly atrocities unfolding a vast distance to the south.

According to British official documents, this one-bedroom flat in the capital is tied to a international web of firms involved in the mass recruitment of mercenaries to combat in Sudan alongside militias accused of numerous war crimes and genocide.

Scores of Former South American Soldiers Recruited

A large number of former Colombian military personnel have been recruited to serve with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group responsible for sexual violence, targeted killings, and the widespread killing of civilians.

Colombian mercenaries were key participants in the paramilitaries’ capture of the western Sudanese city of El Fasher in late October, which triggered a killing frenzy that analysts say has claimed at least 60,000 lives.

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

UK Address Linked to Censured Firm

The apartment in Tottenham is listed to a corporation called Zeuz Global, set up by two individuals named and penalized last week by the US treasury for hiring contractors to combat for the RSF.

Both individuals – citizens of Colombia in their 50s – are listed in documents at Companies House as resident in the United Kingdom.

The company remains active. The day after the United States announced restrictions on those behind the Colombian mercenary operation, Zeuz Global suddenly relocated its official location to the very heart of London. Its new postcode matches one five-star hotel in a central district.

Both hotels stated they had no connection to Zeuz Global and had no idea why the company had used their addresses.

"This is of serious worry that the key individuals the American authorities states are orchestrating this fighter recruitment have been able to set up a UK company based from a apartment in north London," said an expert, a researcher and ex-participant of a United Nations group on Sudan.

Questions Raised Over UK Company Checks

Analysts say the saga highlights questions over how individuals publicly sanctioned by the US for "fueling the civil war in Sudan" were able to apparently set up and run a firm in the UK capital.

The UK's top diplomat has censured the RSF for "organized murder, abuse and assault" following the group’s seizure of El Fasher. The RSF has been accused by the US with genocide.

When questioned about Zeuz Global, the registry did not comment on whether it had awareness of the company's activities or confirm the location of the penalized people.

Reaching out to Zeuz proved unsuccessful; its website, created in spring, was marked as "under construction" with lacking information.

Operation Led by Retired Officer

According to the US treasury, the figure at the heart of the Colombian recruiting network for the RSF is a citizen of two countries and retired Colombian military officer located in the Gulf state.

The US alleges this individual of playing a central role in hiring ex-military personnel to be deployed to Sudan using a Bogotá-based employment agency. His spouse was also sanctioned for owning and managing the agency.

Another dual national was also sanctioned for managing a company alleged of processing money and payroll for the operation employing the mercenaries.

"During 2024 and 2025, companies in America linked with this individual engaged in numerous bank transactions, amounting to millions of US dollars," the US treasury statement said.

Firm Establishment and Intensifying Conflict

In April of this year, the penalized figures registered a firm in north London named ODP8 Ltd – later renamed Zeuz Global.

Three days later, the RSF attacked the Zamzam displacement camp, killing more than 1,500 civilians. After its capture, the camp was transferred to Colombian mercenaries, who began planning for attacking El Fasher.

The penalized people are listed in Companies House records as holding "starting shares" in the company, with one identified 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, infantrymen, trainers, and operators for drones.

These aircraft proved instrumental 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 daily fatalities," said the analyst. "These weapons require external help to operate. We know that the Colombian mercenary operation has been a major component of this external assistance."

He added that the involvement of sanctioned individuals in a UK company highlighted broader concerns over the absence of strict vetting when companies are established.

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

Government Response and Continuing Claims

A UK official stated that the recent introduction of "mandatory identity verification" for corporate officers would provide more confidence about who was establishing and running UK companies.

The role of the South Americans in Sudan first emerged last year, prompting an expression of regret from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

One of the mercenaries recently admitted that he had trained children in Sudan and fought in El Fasher.

The UAE, long accused of arming the RSF, has also been linked to the hiring of Colombian mercenaries. A report alleged that UAE nationals providing Colombians to the RSF were connected to a high-ranking Emirati figure. The UAE has consistently denied these claims.

A UK official commented: "The UK is calling for an immediate end to violence, the safety of civilians, and the removal of obstacles to aid delivery."

They noted that the UK had recently sanctioned RSF leaders for their role in the crimes in El Fasher.