Colombian Mercenaries in Sudan Reportedly Recruited by British-Based Firms

Tucked away close to the shiny soccer ground of a Premier League club in London lies a plain, nondescript block of flats. Beyond its unremarkable beige brickwork exists a grim secret: a cramped flat linked to deadly atrocities unfolding a vast distance to the south.

Per UK government records, this one-bedroom flat in the capital is tied to a transnational web of companies involved in the large-scale recruitment of mercenaries to fight in Sudan alongside militias accused of myriad war crimes and genocide.

Scores of Former Colombian Military Enlisted

A large number of former Colombian military personnel have been recruited to fight with Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group responsible for sexual violence, ethnic slaughter, and the widespread killing of civilians.

These contractors were directly involved in the paramilitaries’ capture of the western Sudanese city of El Fasher in late October, which sparked a wave of violence that analysts say has cost over 60,000 lives.

While reports of violence mount, connections have been identified between the fighters hired to capture El Fasher and addresses in the city of London.

London Flat Connected to Sanctioned Company

The flat in Tottenham is registered to a corporation called Zeuz Global, set up by two people identified and sanctioned recently by the US treasury for hiring contractors to combat for the RSF.

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

The firm remains operational. The day after the United States announced sanctions on those running the recruitment network, Zeuz Global abruptly moved its official location to the very heart of London. Its new postcode corresponds to one luxury accommodation in Covent Garden.

Both hotels said they had no link to Zeuz Global and had no idea why the company had listed their postcodes.

"This is of major concern that the primary figures the American authorities claims are directing this mercenary supply have been able to set up a UK company based from a apartment in the capital," said an expert, a researcher and former member of a United Nations group on Sudan.

Concerns Voiced Over UK Company Oversight

Analysts say the situation raises questions over how people publicly sanctioned by the US for "fueling the conflict in Sudan" were able to seemingly set up and run a company in the British capital.

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

When asked about Zeuz Global, Companies House did not comment on whether it had knowledge of the firm’s activities or confirm the location of the sanctioned individuals.

Contacting Zeuz proved fruitless; its online site, set up in spring, was labelled as "under construction" with lacking information.

Network Led by Former Soldier

According to the American authorities, the man 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 United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The US alleges this individual of playing a key part in recruiting ex-military personnel to be deployed to Sudan using a Bogotá-based recruitment firm. His spouse was also penalized for running the agency.

Another individual with two citizenships was also sanctioned for managing a company accused of processing money and payroll for the operation hiring the mercenaries.

"During 2024 and 2025, companies in America linked with this individual engaged in many bank transactions, totalling many millions of US dollars," the official announcement read.

Company Registration and Intensifying Conflict

In April of this year, the penalized figures registered a company in north London called ODP8 Ltd – later re-branded Zeuz Global.

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

The sanctioned individuals are listed in official UK documents as holding "starting shares" in the company, with one identified as a person of "significant control".

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

Impact on the War and Wider Issues

The hiring of the Colombians has had a profound impact on the trajectory of the conflict, experts state. These fighters have reportedly instructed minors to be soldiers, as well as acting as marksmen, infantrymen, instructors, and pilots for drones.

These aircraft proved key in the capture 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 regular civilian deaths," said the expert. "These weapons require external help to operate. We know that the recruitment network has been a significant part of this external assistance."

He noted that the involvement of penalized persons in a London firm underlined broader concerns over the absence of strict vetting when firms are set up.

"Owning a UK company like this is a license for bad actors 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 said.

Government Response and Ongoing Allegations

A government source said that the recent introduction of "mandatory identity verification" for company directors would provide greater assurance about who was establishing and controlling UK companies.

The role of the South Americans in Sudan first emerged last year, leading to an expression of regret 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, repeatedly alleged of arming the RSF, has also been linked to the recruitment of the contractors. A report alleged that Emirati business people supplying Colombians to the RSF were linked to a high-ranking Emirati figure. The UAE has repeatedly rejected these claims.

A British government spokesperson said: "The UK is demanding an immediate end to atrocities, the protection of civilians, and the removal of obstacles to aid delivery."

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