South American Mercenaries in the Sudanese Conflict Allegedly Hired by British-Based Firms

Tucked away near the shiny football stadium of a Premier League club in London lies a plain, unremarkable block of flats. Behind its ordinary beige brickwork lies a grim reality: a small second-floor apartment connected to murderous atrocities unfolding a vast distance to the south.

Per UK government records, this one-bedroom flat in north London is tied to a international network of companies involved in the mass recruitment of fighters to fight in Sudan alongside paramilitaries charged of numerous war crimes and genocide.

Scores of Ex- Colombian Military Recruited

Hundreds of ex-soldiers from Colombia have been recruited to serve with Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a armed faction responsible for sexual violence, targeted killings, and the systematic murder of women and children.

These contractors were key participants in the RSF's seizure of the south-western Sudanese city of El Fasher in recent months, which triggered a killing frenzy that analysts say has claimed over 60,000 lives.

As accounts of violence mount, connections have been found between the mercenaries contracted to overrun El Fasher and locations in the UK capital.

UK Address Linked to Sanctioned Company

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

Both figures – Colombian nationals in their fifties – are described in documents at the UK company registry as resident in Britain.

The firm remains active. The following day the US treasury announced restrictions on those behind the recruitment network, Zeuz Global abruptly moved its registered address to the centre of London. Its updated address matches a 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 listed their addresses.

"This is of serious worry that the key individuals the US government claims are directing this fighter recruitment have been able to establish a UK company based from a apartment in the capital," stated Mike Lewis, a researcher and ex-participant of a UN panel on Sudan.

Questions Raised Over UK Company Oversight

Experts argue the situation raises questions over how people publicly sanctioned by the US for "contributing to the civil war in Sudan" were able to apparently set up and run a firm in the British capital.

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

When asked about the company, Companies House did not respond on whether it had awareness of the company's activities or confirm the location of the sanctioned individuals.

Reaching out to Zeuz proved fruitless; its online site, created in May, was marked as "being built" with no contact details.

Network Led by Retired Officer

According to the US treasury, the man at the centre of the Colombian recruiting network for the RSF is a citizen of two countries and former army officer based in the Gulf state.

The US alleges this individual of having a central role in recruiting former Colombian soldiers to be deployed to Sudan using a Colombian employment agency. His wife was also sanctioned for owning and managing the firm.

Another individual with two citizenships was similarly censured for overseeing a business accused of processing money and payroll for the operation hiring the Colombian fighters.

"During 2024 and 2025, US-based firms linked with this individual engaged in many wire transfers, amounting to millions of US dollars," the US treasury statement read.

Company Registration and Escalating Violence

In April of this year, the penalized figures registered a company in the UK capital named ODP8 Ltd – later renamed Zeuz Global.

Shortly after, the RSF assaulted the Zamzam camp for displaced people, killing more than 1,500 civilians. After its capture, the camp was handed over to the hired fighters, who began preparations for assaulting El Fasher.

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

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, experts state. These nationals have reportedly trained children to be combatants, as well as serving as marksmen, foot soldiers, trainers, and operators for unmanned aircraft.

These aircraft proved key in the fall of El Fasher and during combat in other regions.

"The war in Sudan is a technologically advanced one, with guided weapons and remote aircraft causing daily fatalities," added 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 noted that the participation of penalized persons in a London firm highlighted broader concerns over the lack of rigorous checks when companies are set up.

"Having a UK company like this is a license for criminals to do business with legitimate counterparts. It's still more difficult to join a gym in most cases than to set up a UK company," he stated.

Government Response and Continuing Claims

A government source said that the new rollout of "compulsory ID checks" for corporate officers would provide more confidence about who was establishing and controlling UK firms.

The Colombians’ involvement in Sudan first emerged last year, leading to an expression of regret from the South American nation's government.

One of the mercenaries recently confirmed that he had instructed minors in Sudan and fought in El Fasher.

The UAE, long accused of supplying weapons to the RSF, has also been linked to the hiring of the contractors. A report alleged that UAE nationals providing fighters to the RSF were linked to a high-ranking Emirati figure. The UAE has consistently denied these claims.

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

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