Colombian Contractors in Sudan Reportedly Hired by UK-Registered Companies

Tucked away close to a gleaming football stadium of Tottenham Hotspur in London is a squat, nondescript block of flats. Behind its unremarkable beige brickwork exists a grim secret: a cramped flat connected to deadly atrocities unfolding thousands of miles to the south.

According to British official documents, this one-bedroom flat in the capital is tied to a international network of firms involved in the large-scale hiring of mercenaries to fight in the African nation alongside paramilitaries accused of myriad war crimes and ethnic cleansing.

Scores of Former South American Soldiers Enlisted

Hundreds of former Colombian military personnel have been enlisted to serve with Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group blamed for sexual violence, targeted killings, and the widespread killing of civilians.

These contractors were directly involved in the RSF's seizure 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 reports of atrocities mount, links have been identified between the fighters hired to capture El Fasher and addresses in the city of London.

London Flat Linked to Censured Firm

The apartment in north London is registered to a corporation named Zeuz Global, set up by two people named and sanctioned last week by the US treasury for hiring contractors to fight for the RSF.

Both figures – Colombian nationals in their 50s – are listed in records at the UK company registry as resident in Britain.

The firm is active. The day after the United States announced restrictions on those running the recruitment network, Zeuz Global abruptly moved its registered address to the centre of London. Its new postcode matches one luxury accommodation in a central district.

The establishments in question said they had no link to Zeuz Global and were unaware why the company had listed their addresses.

"This is of major concern that the key individuals the American authorities states are orchestrating this mercenary supply have been able to establish a UK company based from a apartment in the capital," stated an expert, a researcher and former member of a United Nations group on Sudan.

Concerns Voiced Over British Firm Oversight

Analysts say the saga highlights questions over how people publicly sanctioned by the US for "fueling the conflict in Sudan" were able to seemingly establish and operate a company in the British capital.

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

When asked about Zeuz Global, the registry did not comment on whether it had awareness of the firm’s operations or verify the location of the penalized people.

Reaching out to Zeuz proved fruitless; its website, created in spring, was labelled as "under construction" with no contact details.

Network Led by Retired Officer

According to the American authorities, the figure at the heart of the South American recruitment operation for the RSF is a citizen of two countries and former army officer based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The US accuses 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 running the agency.

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

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

Firm Establishment and Intensifying Conflict

In spring of the current year, the sanctioned individuals set up a company in the UK capital named ODP8 Ltd – later re-branded Zeuz Global.

Three days later, the RSF assaulted the Zamzam camp for displaced people, slaughtering more than 1,500 civilians. After its seizure, the site was handed over to the hired fighters, who began preparations for attacking El Fasher.

The sanctioned individuals are listed in Companies House records as holding "starting shares" in the firm, with one named as a key controller.

Both list Britain as their "country of residence".

Effect on the Conflict and Broader Concerns

The hiring of the Colombians has had a significant effect on the trajectory of the war, experts state. These nationals have allegedly trained children to be combatants, as well as acting as marksmen, infantrymen, instructors, and pilots for unmanned aircraft.

These aircraft were key in the capture of El Fasher and during combat in other regions.

"The war in Sudan is a technologically advanced one, with precision munitions and remote aircraft causing daily fatalities," said the analyst. "These systems require external help to operate. We know that the recruitment network has been a major component of this outside support."

He added that the participation of penalized persons in a UK company highlighted wider worries over the lack of rigorous checks when firms are established.

"Owning a UK company like this is a passport for criminals to do business with legitimate counterparts. It's still more difficult to join a gym 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 company directors would provide more confidence about who was setting up and controlling UK companies.

The role of the South Americans in Sudan first came to light last year, prompting an apology from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

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

The United Arab Emirates, repeatedly alleged of supplying weapons to the RSF, has also been connected to the hiring of Colombian mercenaries. A investigation alleged that Emirati business people providing Colombians to the RSF were linked to a high-ranking Emirati figure. The UAE has consistently denied these allegations.

A UK official said: "The UK is calling for an halt to atrocities, the protection of civilians, and the removal of barriers to aid delivery."

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