South American Contractors in the Sudanese Conflict Allegedly Recruited by British-Based Companies

Situated near the shiny football stadium of a Premier League club in London is a plain, nondescript apartment building. Behind its unremarkable beige brickwork exists a grim 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 international network of firms involved in the mass recruitment of fighters to fight in Sudan alongside paramilitaries accused of numerous atrocities and genocide.

Hundreds of Former South American Soldiers Recruited

A large number of former Colombian military personnel have been enlisted to fight with Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a armed faction responsible for sexual violence, ethnic slaughter, and the systematic killing of women and children.

These contractors were key participants in the RSF's seizure of the western Sudanese city of El Fasher in recent months, which sparked a killing frenzy that experts believe has claimed at least 60,000 lives.

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

UK Address Linked to Sanctioned Company

The flat in north London is listed to a company named Zeuz Global, set up by two people named and sanctioned last week by the American authorities for hiring Colombian mercenaries to fight for the RSF.

Both figures – Colombian nationals in their 50s – are described in records at Companies House as resident in the United Kingdom.

The company is active. The day after the United States announced restrictions on those running the Colombian mercenary operation, Zeuz Global abruptly moved its official location to the centre of central London. Its new postcode corresponds to one luxury accommodation in a central district.

The establishments in question stated they had no link to Zeuz Global and had no idea why the firm had used their addresses.

"It is of major concern that the key individuals the US government states are orchestrating this mercenary supply have been able to set up a UK company operating from a flat in north London," said an expert, a analyst and former member of a United Nations group on Sudan.

Questions Raised Over British Firm Checks

Analysts say the saga highlights questions over how people openly censured by the US for "fueling the conflict in Sudan" were able to apparently set up and run a firm in the British capital.

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

When questioned about the company, the registry did not comment on whether it had knowledge of the company's activities or verify the location of the sanctioned individuals.

Reaching out to Zeuz proved fruitless; its website, set up in May, was labelled as "being built" with no contact details.

Network Headed by Retired Officer

According to the American authorities, the figure at the centre of the South American recruitment operation for the RSF is a citizen of two countries and retired Colombian military officer located in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The US accuses this individual of playing a central role in recruiting ex-military personnel to be deployed to Sudan using a Bogotá-based recruitment firm. His spouse was also sanctioned for running the agency.

Another dual national was also sanctioned for managing a company alleged of handling funds and salaries for the network hiring the mercenaries.

"During 2024 and 2025, companies in America associated with this individual engaged in numerous wire transfers, totalling many millions of US dollars," the US treasury statement said.

Company Registration and Intensifying Conflict

In April of the current year, the sanctioned individuals set up a company in the UK capital named ODP8 Ltd – later renamed Zeuz Global.

Three days later, the RSF attacked the Zamzam displacement camp, killing over 1,500 civilians. After its seizure, the camp was handed over to the hired fighters, who began preparations for assaulting El Fasher.

The sanctioned individuals are named in Companies House records as holding "starting shares" in the firm, with one identified as a person of "significant control".

The two describe Britain as their "country of residence".

Impact on the Conflict and Wider Issues

The hiring of the Colombians has had a significant effect on the trajectory of the war, experts state. These fighters have allegedly trained children to be combatants, as well as acting as marksmen, foot soldiers, trainers, and pilots for drones.

These aircraft were key in the fall of El Fasher and during fighting in surrounding areas.

"The war in Sudan is a technologically advanced one, with guided weapons and remote aircraft causing regular fatalities," added the expert. "These systems require outside assistance to operate. We know that the recruitment network has been a significant part of this outside support."

He noted that the participation of penalized persons in a UK company underlined broader concerns over the absence of strict vetting when firms are established.

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

Government Response and Ongoing Allegations

A government source said that the recent introduction of "compulsory ID checks" for corporate officers would provide greater assurance about who was establishing and running UK firms.

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

One of the mercenaries 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 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 halt to violence, the protection of civilians, and the lifting of obstacles to aid delivery."

They added that the UK had also imposed restrictions on RSF commanders for their part in the atrocities in El Fasher.