ð Share this article South American Mercenaries in Sudan Allegedly Hired by UK-Registered Companies Tucked away near the gleaming football stadium of a Premier League club in the British capital is a squat, nondescript block of flats. Behind its unremarkable beige brickwork lies a grim secret: a cramped flat connected to murderous atrocities taking place thousands of miles to the south. According to British official documents, this apartment in north London is tied to a international network of companies involved in the large-scale recruitment of mercenaries to fight in the African nation alongside paramilitaries charged of numerous war crimes and genocide. Scores of Ex- Colombian Military Enlisted A large number of ex-soldiers from Colombia have been enlisted to serve with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group blamed for mass rapes, targeted killings, and the systematic killing of civilians. Colombian mercenaries were directly involved in the RSF's capture of the south-western Sudanese city of El Fasher in late October, 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 hired to overrun El Fasher and locations in the city of London. UK Address Linked to Sanctioned Company The flat in north London is listed to a company called Zeuz Global, established by two people identified and penalized recently by the American authorities for hiring contractors to fight for the RSF. Both individuals â citizens of Colombia in their 50s â are listed in records at Companies House as living in the United Kingdom. The company remains active. The day after the US treasury announced restrictions on those behind the recruitment network, Zeuz Global abruptly moved its registered address to the centre of central London. Its new postcode corresponds to one five-star hotel in Covent Garden. Both hotels said they had no connection to Zeuz Global and had no idea why the firm had listed their addresses. "It is of major concern that the key individuals the US government claims are directing this mercenary supply have been able to set up a UK company operating from a apartment in the capital," stated an expert, a analyst and former member of a United Nations group on Sudan. Concerns Voiced Over UK Company Checks Analysts say the saga highlights concerns over how people openly censured by the US for "contributing to the conflict in Sudan" were able to seemingly set up and run a company in the UK capital. The UK's top diplomat has condemned the RSF for "systematic killings, torture and assault" following the faction's capture of El Fasher. The RSF has been charged by the US with acts of genocide. When questioned about Zeuz Global, Companies House did not comment on whether it had awareness of the company's operations or confirm the location of the sanctioned individuals. Reaching out to Zeuz proved fruitless; its website, created in May, was labelled as "under construction" with no contact details. Network Headed by Former Soldier Per the US treasury, the figure at the centre of the Colombian recruiting network for the RSF is a citizen of two countries and former army officer located in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The US accuses this individual of playing a key part in hiring former Colombian soldiers to be sent to Sudan using a Colombian recruitment firm. His wife was also penalized for owning and managing the agency. Another dual national was similarly censured for managing a company alleged of handling funds and salaries for the operation employing the mercenaries. "During 2024 and 2025, US-based firms linked with this individual conducted numerous wire transfers, amounting to many millions of US dollars," the official announcement said. Firm Establishment and Escalating Violence In spring of the current year, the penalized figures set up a company in north London called ODP8 Ltd â later re-branded Zeuz Global. Three days later, the RSF assaulted the Zamzam displacement camp, slaughtering over 1,500 civilians. After its seizure, 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 "initial shareholdings" in the company, with one named as a person of "significant control". Both describe Britain as their "country of residence". Impact on the Conflict and Broader Concerns The hiring of the South Americans has had a significant effect on the trajectory of the conflict, analysts say. These nationals have allegedly instructed minors to be combatants, as well as serving as marksmen, infantrymen, trainers, and pilots for unmanned aircraft. These drones proved instrumental in the fall of El Fasher and during fighting in other regions. "The war in Sudan is a hi-tech one, with guided weapons and remote aircraft causing daily fatalities," added the expert. "These systems 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 penalized persons in a London firm highlighted wider worries 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 establish a UK company," he stated. Official Reaction and Continuing Claims A government source stated that the recent introduction of "compulsory ID checks" for company directors would provide more confidence about who was establishing and running UK firms. The Colombiansâ involvement in Sudan first came to light last year, leading to an expression of regret from Colombiaâs foreign ministry. One of the mercenaries recently admitted that he had instructed minors in Sudan and fought in El Fasher. The United Arab Emirates, repeatedly alleged of arming the RSF, has also been linked to the recruitment of Colombian mercenaries. A investigation alleged that UAE nationals supplying fighters 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 safety of non-combatants, and the lifting of obstacles to humanitarian access." They added that the UK had recently sanctioned RSF leaders for their part in the crimes in El Fasher.
Tucked away near the gleaming football stadium of a Premier League club in the British capital is a squat, nondescript block of flats. Behind its unremarkable beige brickwork lies a grim secret: a cramped flat connected to murderous atrocities taking place thousands of miles to the south. According to British official documents, this apartment in north London is tied to a international network of companies involved in the large-scale recruitment of mercenaries to fight in the African nation alongside paramilitaries charged of numerous war crimes and genocide. Scores of Ex- Colombian Military Enlisted A large number of ex-soldiers from Colombia have been enlisted to serve with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group blamed for mass rapes, targeted killings, and the systematic killing of civilians. Colombian mercenaries were directly involved in the RSF's capture of the south-western Sudanese city of El Fasher in late October, 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 hired to overrun El Fasher and locations in the city of London. UK Address Linked to Sanctioned Company The flat in north London is listed to a company called Zeuz Global, established by two people identified and penalized recently by the American authorities for hiring contractors to fight for the RSF. Both individuals â citizens of Colombia in their 50s â are listed in records at Companies House as living in the United Kingdom. The company remains active. The day after the US treasury announced restrictions on those behind the recruitment network, Zeuz Global abruptly moved its registered address to the centre of central London. Its new postcode corresponds to one five-star hotel in Covent Garden. Both hotels said they had no connection to Zeuz Global and had no idea why the firm had listed their addresses. "It is of major concern that the key individuals the US government claims are directing this mercenary supply have been able to set up a UK company operating from a apartment in the capital," stated an expert, a analyst and former member of a United Nations group on Sudan. Concerns Voiced Over UK Company Checks Analysts say the saga highlights concerns over how people openly censured by the US for "contributing to the conflict in Sudan" were able to seemingly set up and run a company in the UK capital. The UK's top diplomat has condemned the RSF for "systematic killings, torture and assault" following the faction's capture of El Fasher. The RSF has been charged by the US with acts of genocide. When questioned about Zeuz Global, Companies House did not comment on whether it had awareness of the company's operations or confirm the location of the sanctioned individuals. Reaching out to Zeuz proved fruitless; its website, created in May, was labelled as "under construction" with no contact details. Network Headed by Former Soldier Per the US treasury, the figure at the centre of the Colombian recruiting network for the RSF is a citizen of two countries and former army officer located in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The US accuses this individual of playing a key part in hiring former Colombian soldiers to be sent to Sudan using a Colombian recruitment firm. His wife was also penalized for owning and managing the agency. Another dual national was similarly censured for managing a company alleged of handling funds and salaries for the operation employing the mercenaries. "During 2024 and 2025, US-based firms linked with this individual conducted numerous wire transfers, amounting to many millions of US dollars," the official announcement said. Firm Establishment and Escalating Violence In spring of the current year, the penalized figures set up a company in north London called ODP8 Ltd â later re-branded Zeuz Global. Three days later, the RSF assaulted the Zamzam displacement camp, slaughtering over 1,500 civilians. After its seizure, 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 "initial shareholdings" in the company, with one named as a person of "significant control". Both describe Britain as their "country of residence". Impact on the Conflict and Broader Concerns The hiring of the South Americans has had a significant effect on the trajectory of the conflict, analysts say. These nationals have allegedly instructed minors to be combatants, as well as serving as marksmen, infantrymen, trainers, and pilots for unmanned aircraft. These drones proved instrumental in the fall of El Fasher and during fighting in other regions. "The war in Sudan is a hi-tech one, with guided weapons and remote aircraft causing daily fatalities," added the expert. "These systems 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 penalized persons in a London firm highlighted wider worries 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 establish a UK company," he stated. Official Reaction and Continuing Claims A government source stated that the recent introduction of "compulsory ID checks" for company directors would provide more confidence about who was establishing and running UK firms. The Colombiansâ involvement in Sudan first came to light last year, leading to an expression of regret from Colombiaâs foreign ministry. One of the mercenaries recently admitted that he had instructed minors in Sudan and fought in El Fasher. The United Arab Emirates, repeatedly alleged of arming the RSF, has also been linked to the recruitment of Colombian mercenaries. A investigation alleged that UAE nationals supplying fighters 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 safety of non-combatants, and the lifting of obstacles to humanitarian access." They added that the UK had recently sanctioned RSF leaders for their part in the crimes in El Fasher.