🔗 Share this article Colombian Mercenaries in the Sudanese Conflict Allegedly Recruited by British-Based Companies Tucked away near the shiny football stadium of a Premier League club in the British capital is a squat, unremarkable apartment building. Beyond its ordinary beige brickwork exists a dark secret: a cramped second-floor apartment connected to deadly atrocities taking place a vast distance to the south. Per British official documents, this apartment in north London is connected to a international web of firms involved in the mass recruitment of mercenaries to combat in Sudan alongside paramilitaries accused of numerous war crimes and genocide. Scores of Ex- Colombian Military Enlisted A large number of ex-soldiers from Colombia have been enlisted to serve with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a armed faction responsible for mass rapes, targeted killings, and the widespread murder of civilians. Colombian mercenaries were directly involved in the paramilitaries’ seizure of the south-western Sudanese city of El Fasher in late October, which triggered a wave of violence that analysts say has cost at least 60,000 lives. As reports of atrocities mount, connections have been identified between the mercenaries contracted to capture El Fasher and addresses in the UK capital. UK Address Connected to Censured Company The flat in north London is listed to a corporation called Zeuz Global, established by two people identified and penalized last week by the American authorities for recruiting Colombian mercenaries to fight for the RSF. Both individuals – Colombian nationals in their 50s – are described in records at the UK company registry as resident in Britain. The company is operational. The day after the US treasury imposed sanctions on those behind the Colombian mercenary operation, Zeuz Global suddenly relocated its registered address to the centre of London. Its updated address matches one luxury accommodation in a central district. The establishments in question said they had no connection to Zeuz Global and were unaware why the firm had listed their postcodes. "This is of serious worry that the primary figures the US government states are directing this fighter recruitment have been able to establish a UK company operating from a flat in the capital," stated an expert, a analyst and former member of a United Nations group on Sudan. Questions Raised Over British Firm Oversight Analysts say the saga raises questions over how people openly censured by the US for "fueling the civil war in Sudan" were able to seemingly establish and operate a firm in the British capital. The British foreign secretary has condemned the RSF for "systematic killings, torture and assault" following the group’s capture of El Fasher. The RSF has been accused by the US with genocide. When questioned about the company, Companies House did not comment on whether it had awareness of the company's activities or verify the residency status of the sanctioned individuals. Contacting Zeuz proved fruitless; its online site, set up in May, was labelled as "under construction" with no contact details. Network Led by Former Soldier According to the American authorities, the figure at the heart of the South American recruitment operation for the RSF is a dual Colombian-Italian national and retired Colombian military officer located in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The US alleges this individual of playing a central role in hiring ex-military personnel to be sent to Sudan using a Colombian employment agency. His spouse was also sanctioned for running the firm. Another dual national was also sanctioned for managing a company alleged of processing money and salaries for the network employing the Colombian fighters. "In 2024 and 2025, US-based firms linked with this individual engaged in many wire transfers, amounting to many millions of US dollars," the official announcement read. Company Registration and Intensifying Conflict In April of this year, the sanctioned individuals registered a firm in north London named ODP8 Ltd – later renamed Zeuz Global. Three days later, the RSF assaulted the Zamzam camp for displaced people, killing over 1,500 civilians. After its capture, the site was transferred to Colombian mercenaries, who began planning for assaulting El Fasher. The penalized people are named in Companies House records as holding "initial shareholdings" in the firm, with one identified as a key controller. Both list the UK as their "place of residency". Impact on the War and Broader Concerns The recruitment of the Colombians has had a significant effect on the course of the conflict, experts state. These fighters have allegedly trained children to be soldiers, as well as serving as marksmen, foot soldiers, instructors, and operators for unmanned aircraft. These drones were instrumental in the capture of El Fasher and during combat in other regions. "The war in Sudan is a technologically advanced one, with precision munitions and remote aircraft causing regular fatalities," said the expert. "These systems require outside assistance to operate. We know that the recruitment network has been a significant part of this external assistance." He noted that the participation of sanctioned individuals in a London firm underlined broader concerns over the absence of rigorous checks when companies are established. "Owning a UK company like this is a license for criminals to do business with respectable entities. It's still more difficult 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 recent introduction of "mandatory identity verification" for company directors would provide more confidence about who was establishing and running 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 mercenaries recently confirmed that he had instructed minors in Sudan and seen combat in El Fasher. The UAE, long accused of supplying weapons to the RSF, has also been linked to the recruitment of the contractors. A investigation alleged that Emirati business people providing Colombians to the RSF were linked to a high-ranking Emirati figure. The UAE has consistently denied these claims. A British government spokesperson commented: "The UK is demanding an immediate end to atrocities, the safety of civilians, and the removal of barriers to aid delivery." They noted that the UK had also sanctioned RSF leaders for their part in the atrocities in El Fasher.
Tucked away near the shiny football stadium of a Premier League club in the British capital is a squat, unremarkable apartment building. Beyond its ordinary beige brickwork exists a dark secret: a cramped second-floor apartment connected to deadly atrocities taking place a vast distance to the south. Per British official documents, this apartment in north London is connected to a international web of firms involved in the mass recruitment of mercenaries to combat in Sudan alongside paramilitaries accused of numerous war crimes and genocide. Scores of Ex- Colombian Military Enlisted A large number of ex-soldiers from Colombia have been enlisted to serve with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a armed faction responsible for mass rapes, targeted killings, and the widespread murder of civilians. Colombian mercenaries were directly involved in the paramilitaries’ seizure of the south-western Sudanese city of El Fasher in late October, which triggered a wave of violence that analysts say has cost at least 60,000 lives. As reports of atrocities mount, connections have been identified between the mercenaries contracted to capture El Fasher and addresses in the UK capital. UK Address Connected to Censured Company The flat in north London is listed to a corporation called Zeuz Global, established by two people identified and penalized last week by the American authorities for recruiting Colombian mercenaries to fight for the RSF. Both individuals – Colombian nationals in their 50s – are described in records at the UK company registry as resident in Britain. The company is operational. The day after the US treasury imposed sanctions on those behind the Colombian mercenary operation, Zeuz Global suddenly relocated its registered address to the centre of London. Its updated address matches one luxury accommodation in a central district. The establishments in question said they had no connection to Zeuz Global and were unaware why the firm had listed their postcodes. "This is of serious worry that the primary figures the US government states are directing this fighter recruitment have been able to establish a UK company operating from a flat in the capital," stated an expert, a analyst and former member of a United Nations group on Sudan. Questions Raised Over British Firm Oversight Analysts say the saga raises questions over how people openly censured by the US for "fueling the civil war in Sudan" were able to seemingly establish and operate a firm in the British capital. The British foreign secretary has condemned the RSF for "systematic killings, torture and assault" following the group’s capture of El Fasher. The RSF has been accused by the US with genocide. When questioned about the company, Companies House did not comment on whether it had awareness of the company's activities or verify the residency status of the sanctioned individuals. Contacting Zeuz proved fruitless; its online site, set up in May, was labelled as "under construction" with no contact details. Network Led by Former Soldier According to the American authorities, the figure at the heart of the South American recruitment operation for the RSF is a dual Colombian-Italian national and retired Colombian military officer located in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The US alleges this individual of playing a central role in hiring ex-military personnel to be sent to Sudan using a Colombian employment agency. His spouse was also sanctioned for running the firm. Another dual national was also sanctioned for managing a company alleged of processing money and salaries for the network employing the Colombian fighters. "In 2024 and 2025, US-based firms linked with this individual engaged in many wire transfers, amounting to many millions of US dollars," the official announcement read. Company Registration and Intensifying Conflict In April of this year, the sanctioned individuals registered a firm in north London named ODP8 Ltd – later renamed Zeuz Global. Three days later, the RSF assaulted the Zamzam camp for displaced people, killing over 1,500 civilians. After its capture, the site was transferred to Colombian mercenaries, who began planning for assaulting El Fasher. The penalized people are named in Companies House records as holding "initial shareholdings" in the firm, with one identified as a key controller. Both list the UK as their "place of residency". Impact on the War and Broader Concerns The recruitment of the Colombians has had a significant effect on the course of the conflict, experts state. These fighters have allegedly trained children to be soldiers, as well as serving as marksmen, foot soldiers, instructors, and operators for unmanned aircraft. These drones were instrumental in the capture of El Fasher and during combat in other regions. "The war in Sudan is a technologically advanced one, with precision munitions and remote aircraft causing regular fatalities," said the expert. "These systems require outside assistance to operate. We know that the recruitment network has been a significant part of this external assistance." He noted that the participation of sanctioned individuals in a London firm underlined broader concerns over the absence of rigorous checks when companies are established. "Owning a UK company like this is a license for criminals to do business with respectable entities. It's still more difficult 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 recent introduction of "mandatory identity verification" for company directors would provide more confidence about who was establishing and running 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 mercenaries recently confirmed that he had instructed minors in Sudan and seen combat in El Fasher. The UAE, long accused of supplying weapons to the RSF, has also been linked to the recruitment of the contractors. A investigation alleged that Emirati business people providing Colombians to the RSF were linked to a high-ranking Emirati figure. The UAE has consistently denied these claims. A British government spokesperson commented: "The UK is demanding an immediate end to atrocities, the safety of civilians, and the removal of barriers to aid delivery." They noted that the UK had also sanctioned RSF leaders for their part in the atrocities in El Fasher.