South American Contractors in Sudan Reportedly Recruited by UK-Registered Firms

Tucked away near a shiny football stadium of a Premier League club in London lies a plain, unremarkable block of flats. Beyond its unremarkable beige brickwork exists a dark secret: a cramped flat connected to deadly crimes unfolding thousands of miles to the south.

According to British official documents, this apartment in the capital is connected to a international web of companies involved in the mass hiring of fighters to combat in Sudan alongside paramilitaries charged of myriad war crimes and genocide.

Scores of Ex- Colombian Military Recruited

A large number of former Colombian military personnel have been enlisted to fight with Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a armed faction blamed for mass rapes, targeted killings, and the systematic murder of women and children.

These contractors were key participants in the paramilitaries’ seizure of the western Sudanese city of El Fasher in recent months, which triggered a wave of violence that experts believe has cost at least 60,000 lives.

While accounts of violence mount, links have been found between the mercenaries contracted to capture El Fasher and addresses in the UK capital.

London Flat Connected to Sanctioned Company

The flat in north London is listed to a corporation named Zeuz Global, set up by two people named and penalized last week by the US treasury for recruiting contractors to fight for the RSF.

Both individuals – citizens of Colombia in their 50s – are described in records at the UK company registry as resident in the United Kingdom.

The company remains active. The day after the US treasury announced sanctions on those running the recruitment network, Zeuz Global abruptly moved its official location to the very heart of London. Its new postcode corresponds to a five-star hotel 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 addresses.

"It is of major concern that the key individuals the American authorities states are orchestrating this mercenary supply have been able to establish a UK company operating from a flat in north London," said an expert, a analyst and ex-participant of a UN panel on Sudan.

Questions Raised Over British Firm Checks

Analysts argue the saga raises concerns over how individuals publicly sanctioned by the US for "fueling the civil war in Sudan" were able to apparently set up and run a company in the UK capital.

The British foreign secretary has censured the RSF for "systematic killings, abuse and sexual violence" following the group’s seizure of El Fasher. The RSF has been charged by the US with acts of genocide.

When questioned about the company, Companies House did not comment on whether it had knowledge of the firm’s operations or confirm the residency status of the sanctioned individuals.

Reaching out to Zeuz was fruitless; its online site, created in May, was labelled as "under construction" with no contact details.

Operation Led by Retired Officer

According to the US treasury, the figure at the heart of the South American recruitment operation for the RSF is a citizen of two countries and former army officer located in the Gulf state.

The US accuses this individual of playing a central role in recruiting ex-military personnel to be deployed to Sudan using a Bogotá-based recruitment firm. His spouse was also penalized for running the firm.

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

"In 2024 and 2025, US-based firms linked with this individual conducted numerous wire transfers, amounting to many millions of US dollars," the US treasury statement said.

Company Registration and Escalating Violence

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

Shortly after, the RSF assaulted the Zamzam displacement camp, slaughtering more than 1,500 civilians. After its capture, the camp was transferred to Colombian mercenaries, who began preparations for assaulting El Fasher.

The sanctioned individuals are named in Companies House records as owning "initial shareholdings" in the company, with one named as a key controller.

Both describe the UK as their "place of residency".

Impact on the War and Wider Issues

The hiring of the South Americans has had a profound impact on the trajectory of the conflict, experts state. These nationals have reportedly trained children to be combatants, as well as acting as snipers, foot soldiers, instructors, and operators for drones.

These aircraft were key in the fall of El Fasher and during combat in surrounding areas.

"The war in Sudan is a hi-tech one, with precision munitions and remote aircraft causing regular civilian deaths," added the analyst. "These systems require outside assistance to operate. We know that the recruitment network has been a significant part of this outside support."

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

"Owning a UK company like this is a license for criminals to do deals with legitimate counterparts. It's still more difficult to join a gym in most cases than to establish a UK company," he stated.

Official Reaction and Ongoing Allegations

A UK official stated that the recent introduction of "mandatory identity verification" for company directors would provide more confidence about who was setting up and controlling UK companies.

The role of the South Americans in Sudan first came to light last year, leading to an expression of regret from the South American nation's government.

One of the mercenaries recently admitted that he had trained children 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 the contractors. A investigation alleged that Emirati business people supplying 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 calling for an immediate end to atrocities, the safety of non-combatants, and the removal of obstacles to humanitarian access."

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