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

Tucked away near a gleaming soccer ground of Tottenham Hotspur in the British capital lies a plain, nondescript apartment building. Beyond its unremarkable facade exists a dark secret: a cramped second-floor apartment linked to murderous atrocities taking place a vast distance to the south.

Per UK government records, this one-bedroom flat in the capital is tied to a international network of firms implicated in the mass hiring of mercenaries to fight in the African nation alongside militias charged of myriad war crimes and ethnic cleansing.

Hundreds of Former South American Soldiers Recruited

A large number of former Colombian military personnel have been enlisted to serve with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a armed faction blamed for sexual violence, ethnic slaughter, and the widespread murder of civilians.

These contractors were directly involved in the paramilitaries’ seizure of the western Sudanese city of El Fasher in recent months, which sparked a wave of violence that experts believe has claimed at least 60,000 lives.

While accounts of violence increase, connections have been found between the fighters contracted to overrun El Fasher and locations in the city of London.

UK Address Connected to Sanctioned Firm

The flat in north London is listed to a company named Zeuz Global, established by two people identified and penalized recently by the US treasury for hiring Colombian mercenaries to combat 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 company is operational. The day after the US treasury imposed sanctions on those behind the recruitment network, Zeuz Global abruptly moved its official location to the very heart of central London. Its updated address matches one five-star hotel in a central district.

The establishments in question stated 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 US government claims are directing this fighter recruitment have been able to set up a UK company based from a flat in the capital," said Mike Lewis, a researcher and former member of a UN panel on Sudan.

Concerns Voiced Over UK Company Oversight

Experts argue the saga highlights concerns over how individuals openly censured by the US for "contributing to the civil war in Sudan" were able to apparently establish and operate a company in the UK capital.

The UK's top diplomat has censured the RSF for "systematic killings, abuse and sexual violence" following the group’s seizure of El Fasher. The RSF has been accused by the US with acts of genocide.

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

Contacting Zeuz was unsuccessful; its website, created in spring, was marked as "under construction" with no contact details.

Operation Headed by Retired Officer

Per the US treasury, the man at the heart of the Colombian recruiting network for the RSF is a dual Colombian-Italian national and retired Colombian military officer based in the Gulf state.

The US alleges this individual of having a key part in recruiting former Colombian soldiers to be deployed to Sudan using a Bogotá-based employment agency. His wife was also sanctioned for running the agency.

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

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

Firm Establishment and Intensifying Conflict

In April of this year, the sanctioned individuals set up a firm in north London named ODP8 Ltd – later renamed Zeuz Global.

Three days later, the RSF attacked the Zamzam displacement camp, slaughtering over 1,500 civilians. After its capture, the site was handed over to Colombian mercenaries, who began preparations 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 key controller.

The two list Britain as their "place of residency".

Effect on the War and Wider Issues

The recruitment of the South Americans has had a profound impact on the course of the war, analysts say. These nationals have allegedly instructed minors to be soldiers, as well as serving as snipers, infantrymen, instructors, and pilots for drones.

These drones were instrumental in the fall of El Fasher and during fighting in other regions.

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

He noted that the involvement of sanctioned individuals in a UK company underlined broader concerns over the lack of rigorous checks when companies are established.

"Having a UK company like this is a license for bad actors to do business with respectable entities. It's still more difficult to join a fitness centre in most cases than to establish a UK company," he said.

Official Reaction and Continuing Claims

A UK official said that the new rollout of "mandatory identity verification" for company directors would provide more confidence about who was setting up and running UK companies.

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

One of the fighters recently admitted that he had trained children in Sudan and seen combat in El Fasher.

The United Arab Emirates, repeatedly alleged of supplying weapons to the RSF, has also been connected to the recruitment of the contractors. A investigation alleged that Emirati business people providing fighters 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 immediate end to atrocities, the safety of non-combatants, and the lifting of obstacles to humanitarian access."

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