Colombian Mercenaries in the Sudanese Conflict Allegedly Recruited by British-Based Firms

Tucked away close to the gleaming soccer ground of Tottenham Hotspur in London lies a plain, unremarkable block of flats. Beyond its unremarkable beige brickwork lies a dark secret: a cramped second-floor apartment connected to murderous atrocities taking place a vast distance to the south.

Per British official documents, this apartment in north London is tied to a international network of companies implicated in the large-scale hiring of fighters to fight in Sudan alongside militias accused of myriad war crimes and genocide.

Hundreds of Former Colombian Military Enlisted

Hundreds of ex-soldiers from Colombia have been enlisted to serve with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group responsible for sexual violence, targeted killings, 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 sparked a killing frenzy that experts believe has cost at least 60,000 lives.

While reports of atrocities mount, connections have been found between the fighters hired to capture El Fasher and addresses in the city of London.

UK Address Connected to Sanctioned Company

The apartment in Tottenham is listed to a corporation named Zeuz Global, established by two individuals named and penalized last week by the American authorities for hiring contractors to combat for the RSF.

Both figures – Colombian nationals in their fifties – are listed in documents at Companies House as living in Britain.

The company is operational. The following day the United States imposed restrictions on those running the recruitment network, Zeuz Global abruptly moved its registered address to the very heart of central London. Its updated address corresponds to one luxury accommodation in Covent Garden.

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

"It is of major concern that the key individuals the US government states are orchestrating this fighter recruitment have been able to establish a UK company operating from a apartment in the capital," stated Mike Lewis, a researcher and former member of a United Nations group on Sudan.

Concerns Voiced Over British Firm Oversight

Experts argue the saga raises questions over how individuals openly censured by the US for "contributing to the conflict in Sudan" were able to apparently establish and operate a company in the British capital.

The British foreign secretary has condemned the RSF for "systematic killings, abuse and sexual violence" following the faction's capture of El Fasher. The RSF has been charged by the US with acts of genocide.

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

Reaching out to Zeuz proved fruitless; its website, set up in May, was marked as "being built" with no contact details.

Operation Headed by Former Soldier

Per the US treasury, the man at the centre of the South American recruitment operation for the RSF is a citizen of two countries and retired Colombian military officer located in the Gulf state.

The US alleges this individual of playing a key part in recruiting ex-military personnel to be deployed to Sudan using a Bogotá-based employment agency. His wife was also penalized for running the agency.

Another individual with two citizenships was also sanctioned for overseeing a company alleged of processing money and payroll for the operation hiring the Colombian fighters.

"During 2024 and 2025, companies in America associated with this individual engaged in many wire transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the US treasury statement read.

Firm Establishment and Escalating Violence

In April of this year, the sanctioned individuals set up a company in the UK capital called ODP8 Ltd – later renamed Zeuz Global.

Shortly after, the RSF assaulted the Zamzam displacement camp, killing more than 1,500 civilians. After its seizure, the camp was handed over to Colombian mercenaries, who began preparations for attacking El Fasher.

The penalized people are listed in official UK documents as holding "starting shares" in the firm, with one identified as a person of "significant control".

Both list the UK 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, experts state. These nationals have reportedly instructed minors to be combatants, as well as acting as marksmen, foot soldiers, trainers, and operators for unmanned aircraft.

These drones were key in the capture of El Fasher and during combat in surrounding areas.

"The war in Sudan is a technologically advanced one, with guided weapons and long-range drones causing daily fatalities," added the expert. "These weapons require external help to operate. We know that the Colombian mercenary operation has been a major component of this external assistance."

He added that the involvement of penalized persons in a London firm underlined wider worries over the lack of strict vetting when firms are set up.

"Having a UK company like this is a license for criminals to do deals with respectable entities. It's still harder to join a gym in most cases than to set up a UK company," he stated.

Government Response and Ongoing Allegations

A government source stated that the recent introduction of "mandatory identity verification" for corporate officers would provide more confidence about who was setting up and controlling UK firms.

The Colombians’ involvement in Sudan first emerged last year, prompting an apology from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

One of the mercenaries recently confirmed that he had trained children 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 supplying fighters to the RSF were connected to a senior UAE government official. The UAE has repeatedly rejected these claims.

A UK official said: "The UK is calling for an immediate end to violence, the safety of non-combatants, and the lifting of barriers to humanitarian access."

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