🔗 Share this article South American Contractors in Sudan Allegedly Hired by British-Based Companies Situated close to a gleaming football stadium of a Premier League club in the British capital lies a plain, unremarkable block of flats. Beyond its ordinary beige brickwork exists a grim reality: a small second-floor apartment connected to murderous atrocities unfolding a vast distance to the south. Per British official documents, this apartment in north London is connected to a international network of companies involved in the large-scale hiring of mercenaries to fight in Sudan alongside militias accused of numerous atrocities and genocide. Hundreds of Ex- Colombian Military Enlisted A large number of former Colombian military personnel have been recruited to fight with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group responsible for mass rapes, ethnic slaughter, and the systematic killing of civilians. These contractors were key participants in the paramilitaries’ capture of the south-western Sudanese city of El Fasher in recent months, which triggered a wave of violence that analysts say has claimed over 60,000 lives. While reports of atrocities mount, connections have been identified between the fighters contracted to overrun El Fasher and locations in the UK capital. London Flat Linked to Censured Firm The flat in north London is registered to a corporation named Zeuz Global, established by two people named and sanctioned last week by the American authorities for hiring contractors to combat for the RSF. Both individuals – citizens of Colombia in their fifties – are described in records at Companies House as living in Britain. The company is operational. The day after the US treasury announced sanctions on those behind the recruitment network, Zeuz Global suddenly relocated its registered address to the centre of central London. Its new postcode corresponds to a luxury accommodation in a central district. Both hotels stated they had no link to Zeuz Global and had no idea why the company had used their addresses. "It is of serious worry that the key individuals the American authorities states are directing this mercenary supply have been able to establish a UK company based from a apartment in north London," stated Mike Lewis, a researcher and former member of a United Nations group on Sudan. Concerns Voiced Over UK Company Oversight Experts argue the saga raises concerns over how people publicly sanctioned by the US for "contributing to the conflict in Sudan" were able to apparently establish and operate a firm in the British capital. The UK's top diplomat has censured the RSF for "systematic killings, abuse and assault" following the group’s capture of El Fasher. The RSF has been accused by the US with genocide. When asked about the company, the registry did not respond on whether it had awareness of the company's operations or confirm the location of the penalized people. Contacting Zeuz was unsuccessful; its website, set up in spring, was labelled as "under construction" with no contact details. Operation Headed 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 United Arab Emirates (UAE). The US accuses this individual of playing a key part in hiring former Colombian soldiers to be deployed to Sudan using a Colombian employment agency. His spouse was also penalized for running the agency. Another dual national was similarly censured for managing a company alleged of handling funds and salaries for the network employing the mercenaries. "During 2024 and 2025, US-based firms associated with this individual engaged in many bank transactions, amounting to millions of US dollars," the official announcement said. Company Registration and Intensifying Conflict In April of the current year, the sanctioned individuals registered a company in north London named ODP8 Ltd – later re-branded Zeuz Global. Three days later, the RSF attacked the Zamzam displacement camp, killing over 1,500 innocent people. After its seizure, the site was handed over to the hired fighters, who began preparations for attacking El Fasher. The penalized people are listed in official UK documents as owning "starting shares" in the firm, with one named as a person of "significant control". The two list Britain as their "country of residence". Effect on the Conflict and Broader Concerns The hiring of the Colombians has had a profound impact on the trajectory of the conflict, analysts say. These nationals have reportedly instructed minors to be soldiers, as well as acting as marksmen, infantrymen, instructors, and operators for unmanned aircraft. These drones were instrumental in the capture of El Fasher and during fighting in surrounding areas. "The war in Sudan is a technologically advanced one, with precision munitions and long-range drones causing daily civilian deaths," said the analyst. "These systems require outside assistance to operate. We know that the recruitment network has been a significant part of this external assistance." He added that the participation of penalized persons in a UK company highlighted broader concerns over the lack of strict vetting when firms are set up. "Owning a UK company like this is a license for bad actors to do business 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 UK official said that the new rollout of "compulsory ID checks" for corporate officers would provide more confidence about who was setting up and controlling UK companies. The Colombians’ involvement in Sudan first emerged last year, leading to an apology from the South American nation's government. One of the mercenaries recently confirmed that he had trained children in Sudan and seen combat in El Fasher. The UAE, repeatedly alleged of supplying weapons to the RSF, has also been connected to the hiring of the contractors. A report alleged that Emirati business people providing Colombians to the RSF were linked to a senior UAE government official. The UAE has consistently denied these claims. A British government spokesperson commented: "The UK is calling for an immediate end to atrocities, the protection of civilians, and the lifting of barriers to aid delivery." They noted that the UK had also imposed restrictions on RSF leaders for their role in the crimes in El Fasher.
Situated close to a gleaming football stadium of a Premier League club in the British capital lies a plain, unremarkable block of flats. Beyond its ordinary beige brickwork exists a grim reality: a small second-floor apartment connected to murderous atrocities unfolding a vast distance to the south. Per British official documents, this apartment in north London is connected to a international network of companies involved in the large-scale hiring of mercenaries to fight in Sudan alongside militias accused of numerous atrocities and genocide. Hundreds of Ex- Colombian Military Enlisted A large number of former Colombian military personnel have been recruited to fight with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group responsible for mass rapes, ethnic slaughter, and the systematic killing of civilians. These contractors were key participants in the paramilitaries’ capture of the south-western Sudanese city of El Fasher in recent months, which triggered a wave of violence that analysts say has claimed over 60,000 lives. While reports of atrocities mount, connections have been identified between the fighters contracted to overrun El Fasher and locations in the UK capital. London Flat Linked to Censured Firm The flat in north London is registered to a corporation named Zeuz Global, established by two people named and sanctioned last week by the American authorities for hiring contractors to combat for the RSF. Both individuals – citizens of Colombia in their fifties – are described in records at Companies House as living in Britain. The company is operational. The day after the US treasury announced sanctions on those behind the recruitment network, Zeuz Global suddenly relocated its registered address to the centre of central London. Its new postcode corresponds to a luxury accommodation in a central district. Both hotels stated they had no link to Zeuz Global and had no idea why the company had used their addresses. "It is of serious worry that the key individuals the American authorities states are directing this mercenary supply have been able to establish a UK company based from a apartment in north London," stated Mike Lewis, a researcher and former member of a United Nations group on Sudan. Concerns Voiced Over UK Company Oversight Experts argue the saga raises concerns over how people publicly sanctioned by the US for "contributing to the conflict in Sudan" were able to apparently establish and operate a firm in the British capital. The UK's top diplomat has censured the RSF for "systematic killings, abuse and assault" following the group’s capture of El Fasher. The RSF has been accused by the US with genocide. When asked about the company, the registry did not respond on whether it had awareness of the company's operations or confirm the location of the penalized people. Contacting Zeuz was unsuccessful; its website, set up in spring, was labelled as "under construction" with no contact details. Operation Headed 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 United Arab Emirates (UAE). The US accuses this individual of playing a key part in hiring former Colombian soldiers to be deployed to Sudan using a Colombian employment agency. His spouse was also penalized for running the agency. Another dual national was similarly censured for managing a company alleged of handling funds and salaries for the network employing the mercenaries. "During 2024 and 2025, US-based firms associated with this individual engaged in many bank transactions, amounting to millions of US dollars," the official announcement said. Company Registration and Intensifying Conflict In April of the current year, the sanctioned individuals registered a company in north London named ODP8 Ltd – later re-branded Zeuz Global. Three days later, the RSF attacked the Zamzam displacement camp, killing over 1,500 innocent people. After its seizure, the site was handed over to the hired fighters, who began preparations for attacking El Fasher. The penalized people are listed in official UK documents as owning "starting shares" in the firm, with one named as a person of "significant control". The two list Britain as their "country of residence". Effect on the Conflict and Broader Concerns The hiring of the Colombians has had a profound impact on the trajectory of the conflict, analysts say. These nationals have reportedly instructed minors to be soldiers, as well as acting as marksmen, infantrymen, instructors, and operators for unmanned aircraft. These drones were instrumental in the capture of El Fasher and during fighting in surrounding areas. "The war in Sudan is a technologically advanced one, with precision munitions and long-range drones causing daily civilian deaths," said the analyst. "These systems require outside assistance to operate. We know that the recruitment network has been a significant part of this external assistance." He added that the participation of penalized persons in a UK company highlighted broader concerns over the lack of strict vetting when firms are set up. "Owning a UK company like this is a license for bad actors to do business 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 UK official said that the new rollout of "compulsory ID checks" for corporate officers would provide more confidence about who was setting up and controlling UK companies. The Colombians’ involvement in Sudan first emerged last year, leading to an apology from the South American nation's government. One of the mercenaries recently confirmed that he had trained children in Sudan and seen combat in El Fasher. The UAE, repeatedly alleged of supplying weapons to the RSF, has also been connected to the hiring of the contractors. A report alleged that Emirati business people providing Colombians to the RSF were linked to a senior UAE government official. The UAE has consistently denied these claims. A British government spokesperson commented: "The UK is calling for an immediate end to atrocities, the protection of civilians, and the lifting of barriers to aid delivery." They noted that the UK had also imposed restrictions on RSF leaders for their role in the crimes in El Fasher.