South American Contractors in Sudan Reportedly Hired by British-Based Firms

Tucked away close to the shiny football stadium of a Premier League club in the British capital lies a plain, unremarkable block of flats. Behind its ordinary facade exists a dark reality: a small second-floor apartment connected to deadly crimes unfolding thousands of miles to the south.

According to British official documents, this apartment in the capital is tied to a international network of companies implicated in the mass recruitment of fighters to combat in Sudan alongside militias accused of numerous war crimes and ethnic cleansing.

Scores of Former Colombian Military Enlisted

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

These contractors 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 reports of atrocities mount, links have been found between the fighters contracted to overrun El Fasher and addresses in the city of London.

UK Address Connected to Censured Firm

The flat in north London is listed to a corporation named Zeuz Global, established by two people named and penalized last week by the American authorities for recruiting contractors to fight 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 following day the US treasury announced restrictions on those behind the recruitment network, Zeuz Global suddenly relocated its registered address to the very heart of central London. Its updated address matches one luxury accommodation in a central district.

Both hotels said they had no link to Zeuz Global and were unaware why the company had listed their addresses.

"This is of serious worry that the key individuals the American authorities claims are directing this mercenary supply have been able to establish a UK company operating from a apartment in the capital," said Mike Lewis, a researcher and former member of a United Nations group on Sudan.

Questions Raised Over British Firm Oversight

Analysts say the saga raises questions over how individuals openly censured by the US for "fueling the conflict in Sudan" were able to seemingly establish and operate a company in the British capital.

The UK's top diplomat has condemned 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 genocide.

When questioned about the company, the registry did not respond on whether it had awareness of the firm’s activities or confirm the residency status of the sanctioned individuals.

Contacting Zeuz proved unsuccessful; its online site, set up in spring, was labelled as "under construction" with lacking information.

Network Led 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 based in the Gulf state.

The US accuses this individual of having a key part in hiring ex-military personnel to be sent to Sudan using a Bogotá-based employment agency. His wife was also sanctioned for running the agency.

Another dual national was similarly censured for managing a company accused of processing money and salaries for the network hiring the Colombian fighters.

"During 2024 and 2025, US-based firms associated with this individual engaged in numerous wire transfers, amounting to many millions of US dollars," the US treasury statement read.

Firm Establishment and Intensifying Conflict

In spring of the current year, the penalized figures set up a firm in north London named ODP8 Ltd – later re-branded Zeuz Global.

Shortly after, the RSF attacked the Zamzam displacement camp, slaughtering over 1,500 civilians. After its seizure, the camp was transferred to Colombian mercenaries, who began preparations for assaulting El Fasher.

The penalized people are listed in Companies House records as owning "starting shares" in the company, with one named as a key controller.

The two list the UK as their "country of residence".

Impact on the War and Wider Issues

The recruitment of the Colombians has had a significant effect on the trajectory of the conflict, experts state. These fighters have allegedly instructed minors to be combatants, as well as serving as marksmen, foot soldiers, trainers, and pilots for drones.

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 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 involvement of penalized persons in a London firm underlined broader concerns over the absence of rigorous checks when firms are set up.

"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 set up a UK company," he said.

Government Response and Continuing Claims

A government source said that the recent introduction of "mandatory identity verification" for corporate officers would provide greater assurance about who was establishing and controlling UK companies.

The Colombians’ involvement in Sudan first came to light last year, prompting an expression of regret from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

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 connected to the hiring of Colombian mercenaries. A investigation alleged that Emirati business people providing fighters to the RSF were linked to a senior UAE government official. The UAE has repeatedly rejected these claims.

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

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