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

Situated close to the gleaming football stadium of Tottenham Hotspur in the British capital lies a plain, nondescript block of flats. Behind its unremarkable beige brickwork lies a dark secret: a small second-floor apartment linked to murderous atrocities unfolding a vast distance to the south.

According to British official documents, this one-bedroom flat in the capital is tied to a international web of companies involved in the mass hiring of mercenaries to fight in Sudan alongside paramilitaries accused of numerous atrocities and ethnic cleansing.

Hundreds of Former Colombian Military Enlisted

Hundreds of former Colombian military personnel have been recruited to serve with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a armed faction blamed for sexual violence, ethnic slaughter, and the systematic murder of civilians.

Colombian mercenaries were directly involved in the paramilitaries’ seizure of the south-western Sudanese city of El Fasher in recent months, which triggered a wave of violence that experts believe has cost over 60,000 lives.

As reports of atrocities mount, connections have been found between the mercenaries contracted to overrun El Fasher and addresses in the city of London.

UK Address Connected to Sanctioned Company

The apartment in north London is registered to a corporation called Zeuz Global, set up by two individuals named and sanctioned recently by the US treasury for recruiting contractors to fight for the RSF.

Both figures – citizens of Colombia in their 50s – are described in records at the UK company registry as living in the United Kingdom.

The firm remains operational. The day after the US treasury announced sanctions on those running the recruitment network, Zeuz Global abruptly moved its registered address to the very heart of central London. Its updated address matches a five-star hotel in Covent Garden.

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

"It is of serious worry that the primary figures the American authorities claims are orchestrating this fighter recruitment have been able to set up a UK company operating from a flat in north London," stated an expert, a analyst and ex-participant of a United Nations group on Sudan.

Concerns Voiced Over British Firm Checks

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

The British foreign secretary has condemned the RSF for "systematic killings, torture and assault" following the faction's seizure of El Fasher. The RSF has been accused by the US with genocide.

When questioned about Zeuz Global, Companies House did not respond on whether it had knowledge of the firm’s activities or confirm the location of the penalized people.

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

Network Headed by Former Soldier

Per the American authorities, the man at the heart 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 alleges this individual of having a central role in hiring ex-military personnel to be sent to Sudan using a Colombian recruitment firm. His spouse was also penalized for running the firm.

Another dual national was also sanctioned for managing a business accused of processing money and salaries for the network hiring the mercenaries.

"In 2024 and 2025, companies in America linked with this individual engaged in numerous bank transactions, totalling many millions of US dollars," the US treasury statement said.

Firm Establishment and Intensifying Conflict

In spring of the current year, the penalized figures registered a firm in north London named ODP8 Ltd – later renamed Zeuz Global.

Shortly after, the RSF attacked the Zamzam camp for displaced people, slaughtering over 1,500 civilians. After its capture, the camp was transferred to Colombian mercenaries, 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 named as a key controller.

Both list the UK as their "country of residence".

Impact on the Conflict and Wider Issues

The recruitment of the South Americans has had a significant effect on the course of the conflict, experts state. These nationals have allegedly trained children to be soldiers, as well as acting as marksmen, foot soldiers, instructors, and operators for drones.

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

"The war in Sudan is a hi-tech one, with precision munitions and long-range drones causing regular civilian deaths," added the expert. "These systems require outside assistance 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 broader concerns over the lack of strict vetting when companies are established.

"Owning a UK company like this is a license for bad actors to do business with respectable entities. 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 said that the new rollout of "mandatory identity verification" for corporate officers would provide more confidence about who was establishing and controlling UK firms.

The role of the South Americans in Sudan first came to light last year, prompting an apology from the South American nation's government.

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

The UAE, long accused of supplying weapons to the RSF, has also been linked to the recruitment of Colombian mercenaries. A report alleged that UAE nationals supplying Colombians to the RSF were connected to a senior UAE government official. The UAE has consistently denied these allegations.

A UK official commented: "The UK is demanding an halt to violence, the safety of civilians, and the lifting of barriers to aid delivery."

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