South American Mercenaries in the Sudanese Conflict Allegedly Hired by British-Based Firms

Tucked away close to a gleaming football stadium of Tottenham Hotspur in London lies a plain, nondescript apartment building. Beyond its unremarkable beige brickwork lies a dark secret: a small second-floor apartment connected to murderous atrocities 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 involved in the mass hiring of mercenaries to fight in the African nation alongside paramilitaries accused of numerous war crimes and genocide.

Hundreds of Ex- Colombian Military Recruited

Hundreds of ex-soldiers from Colombia have been recruited to fight with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group blamed for mass rapes, targeted killings, and the systematic killing of women and children.

These contractors were key participants in the paramilitaries’ capture of the western Sudanese city of El Fasher in recent months, which sparked a killing frenzy that experts believe has cost at least 60,000 lives.

As accounts of violence increase, links have been found between the mercenaries contracted to capture El Fasher and locations in the city of London.

London Flat Connected to Censured Firm

The flat in Tottenham is registered to a corporation called Zeuz Global, established by two individuals named and sanctioned recently by the US treasury for hiring contractors to fight for the RSF.

Both individuals – Colombian nationals in their fifties – are described in records at the UK company registry as living in Britain.

The firm remains active. The day after the US treasury announced restrictions on those running the Colombian mercenary operation, Zeuz Global abruptly moved its official location to the centre of central London. Its updated address matches a five-star hotel in Covent Garden.

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

"It is of major concern that the key individuals the American authorities claims are directing this mercenary supply have been able to set up a UK company operating from a apartment in the capital," said an expert, a analyst and former member of a UN panel on Sudan.

Questions Raised Over UK Company Checks

Analysts say the saga raises concerns over how people openly censured by the US for "contributing to the conflict in Sudan" were able to apparently establish and operate a firm in the British capital.

The British foreign secretary has condemned the RSF for "systematic killings, torture and sexual violence" following the group’s capture of El Fasher. The RSF has been accused by the US with acts of genocide.

When questioned about Zeuz Global, the registry did not respond on whether it had awareness of the company's operations or confirm the residency status of the penalized people.

Reaching out to Zeuz was fruitless; its online site, set up in spring, was marked as "being built" with no contact details.

Network Headed by Former Soldier

According to the American authorities, the figure 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 alleges this individual of playing a central role in recruiting former Colombian soldiers to be deployed to Sudan using a Colombian employment agency. His spouse was also penalized for running the agency.

Another individual with two citizenships was also sanctioned for overseeing a company accused of processing money and salaries for the operation employing the Colombian fighters.

"In 2024 and 2025, US-based firms associated with this individual conducted many bank transactions, totalling millions of US dollars," the official announcement said.

Company Registration and Intensifying Conflict

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

Shortly after, the RSF attacked the Zamzam displacement camp, killing over 1,500 civilians. After its capture, the camp was handed over to Colombian mercenaries, who began planning for attacking El Fasher.

The penalized people are named in Companies House records as owning "starting shares" in the firm, with one named as a person of "significant control".

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

Effect on the War and Broader Concerns

The hiring of the South Americans has had a significant effect 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 operators for unmanned aircraft.

These aircraft proved key in the capture of El Fasher and during fighting in other regions.

"The war in Sudan is a hi-tech one, with guided weapons and long-range drones causing regular fatalities," said the expert. "These weapons require external help 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 London firm highlighted wider worries over the lack of strict vetting when companies are set up.

"Having a UK company like this is a passport for criminals to do business with legitimate counterparts. It's still harder to join a fitness centre in most cases than to establish a UK company," he said.

Government Response and Continuing Claims

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

The Colombians’ involvement in Sudan first emerged last year, leading to 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 UAE, long accused of arming the RSF, has also been linked to the recruitment of Colombian mercenaries. A investigation alleged that Emirati business people providing fighters to the RSF were linked to a high-ranking Emirati figure. The UAE has repeatedly rejected these claims.

A UK official commented: "The UK is demanding an halt to atrocities, the protection of non-combatants, and the lifting of obstacles to humanitarian access."

They noted that the UK had recently sanctioned RSF commanders for their role in the atrocities in El Fasher.