🔗 Share this article Colombian Contractors in Sudan Allegedly Recruited by British-Based Companies Tucked away near a gleaming football stadium of a Premier League club in London is a plain, unremarkable block of flats. Behind its ordinary facade exists a dark reality: a cramped flat connected to murderous crimes unfolding thousands of miles to the south. Per UK government records, this one-bedroom flat in north London is connected to a transnational web of firms involved in the mass hiring of fighters to fight in the African nation alongside paramilitaries accused of numerous atrocities and genocide. Hundreds of Ex- Colombian Military Recruited A large number of ex-soldiers from Colombia have been enlisted to fight with Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a armed faction blamed for mass rapes, targeted killings, and the widespread murder of women and children. These contractors were directly involved 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 claimed at least 60,000 lives. While accounts of violence mount, links have been found between the mercenaries contracted to overrun El Fasher and addresses in the UK capital. UK Address Linked to Censured Firm The flat in north London is registered to a corporation named Zeuz Global, set up by two individuals 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 listed in records at Companies House as resident in Britain. The company remains active. The day after the US treasury imposed restrictions on those running the Colombian mercenary operation, Zeuz Global suddenly relocated its official location to the centre of central London. Its updated address matches a luxury accommodation in a central district. The establishments in question said they had no link to Zeuz Global and had no idea why the company had listed their addresses. "This is of serious worry that the key individuals the US government states are directing this fighter recruitment have been able to establish a UK company operating from a flat in north London," said an expert, a researcher and former member of a UN panel on Sudan. Concerns Voiced Over UK Company Oversight Analysts say the situation highlights concerns over how individuals publicly sanctioned by the US for "contributing to the conflict in Sudan" were able to seemingly set up and run a company in the UK capital. The British foreign secretary has censured the RSF for "organized murder, abuse and sexual violence" following the group’s capture of El Fasher. The RSF has been accused by the US with genocide. When asked about Zeuz Global, the registry did not comment on whether it had awareness of the firm’s activities or confirm the location of the penalized people. Contacting Zeuz was unsuccessful; its online site, set up in May, was marked as "under construction" with no contact details. Operation Headed by Former Soldier Per the American authorities, the man at the centre of the Colombian recruiting network for the RSF is a citizen of two countries and retired Colombian military officer based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The US alleges this individual of playing a central role in hiring former Colombian soldiers to be deployed to Sudan using a Colombian recruitment firm. His spouse was also sanctioned for owning and managing the firm. Another individual with two citizenships was also sanctioned for managing a company accused of processing money and salaries for the network employing the mercenaries. "In 2024 and 2025, companies in America associated with this individual conducted numerous wire transfers, amounting to many millions of US dollars," the official announcement read. Firm Establishment and Intensifying Conflict In spring of this year, the sanctioned individuals registered a firm in the UK capital named ODP8 Ltd – later re-branded Zeuz Global. Three days later, the RSF attacked the Zamzam camp for displaced people, slaughtering more than 1,500 innocent people. After its seizure, the camp was transferred to Colombian mercenaries, who began preparations for attacking El Fasher. The penalized people are named in Companies House records as owning "starting shares" in the company, with one identified as a key controller. The two describe Britain as their "place of residency". Effect on the War and Broader Concerns The hiring of the Colombians has had a significant effect on the trajectory of the war, analysts say. These nationals have reportedly instructed minors to be combatants, as well as acting as marksmen, infantrymen, trainers, and pilots for drones. These aircraft were key in the fall of El Fasher and during combat in other regions. "The war in Sudan is a hi-tech one, with guided weapons and long-range drones causing regular civilian deaths," added the expert. "These systems require outside assistance to operate. We know that the recruitment network has been a major component of this outside support." He added that the involvement of sanctioned individuals in a UK company highlighted broader concerns over the absence of strict vetting when firms are set up. "Owning a UK company like this is a passport for bad actors to do deals with legitimate counterparts. It's still more difficult to join a gym in most cases than to set up a UK company," he stated. Official Reaction and Ongoing Allegations A UK official said that the new rollout of "mandatory identity verification" for corporate officers would provide more confidence about who was establishing and controlling UK companies. The Colombians’ involvement in Sudan first came to light last year, leading to an expression of regret 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, repeatedly alleged of arming the RSF, has also been connected to the recruitment of Colombian mercenaries. A investigation alleged that Emirati business people providing Colombians to the RSF were linked to a high-ranking Emirati figure. The UAE has repeatedly rejected these allegations. A British government spokesperson commented: "The UK is calling for an immediate end to atrocities, the protection of civilians, and the lifting of obstacles to humanitarian access." They added that the UK had recently imposed restrictions on RSF commanders for their role in the atrocities in El Fasher.
Tucked away near a gleaming football stadium of a Premier League club in London is a plain, unremarkable block of flats. Behind its ordinary facade exists a dark reality: a cramped flat connected to murderous crimes unfolding thousands of miles to the south. Per UK government records, this one-bedroom flat in north London is connected to a transnational web of firms involved in the mass hiring of fighters to fight in the African nation alongside paramilitaries accused of numerous atrocities and genocide. Hundreds of Ex- Colombian Military Recruited A large number of ex-soldiers from Colombia have been enlisted to fight with Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a armed faction blamed for mass rapes, targeted killings, and the widespread murder of women and children. These contractors were directly involved 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 claimed at least 60,000 lives. While accounts of violence mount, links have been found between the mercenaries contracted to overrun El Fasher and addresses in the UK capital. UK Address Linked to Censured Firm The flat in north London is registered to a corporation named Zeuz Global, set up by two individuals 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 listed in records at Companies House as resident in Britain. The company remains active. The day after the US treasury imposed restrictions on those running the Colombian mercenary operation, Zeuz Global suddenly relocated its official location to the centre of central London. Its updated address matches a luxury accommodation in a central district. The establishments in question said they had no link to Zeuz Global and had no idea why the company had listed their addresses. "This is of serious worry that the key individuals the US government states are directing this fighter recruitment have been able to establish a UK company operating from a flat in north London," said an expert, a researcher and former member of a UN panel on Sudan. Concerns Voiced Over UK Company Oversight Analysts say the situation highlights concerns over how individuals publicly sanctioned by the US for "contributing to the conflict in Sudan" were able to seemingly set up and run a company in the UK capital. The British foreign secretary has censured the RSF for "organized murder, abuse and sexual violence" following the group’s capture of El Fasher. The RSF has been accused by the US with genocide. When asked about Zeuz Global, the registry did not comment on whether it had awareness of the firm’s activities or confirm the location of the penalized people. Contacting Zeuz was unsuccessful; its online site, set up in May, was marked as "under construction" with no contact details. Operation Headed by Former Soldier Per the American authorities, the man at the centre of the Colombian recruiting network for the RSF is a citizen of two countries and retired Colombian military officer based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The US alleges this individual of playing a central role in hiring former Colombian soldiers to be deployed to Sudan using a Colombian recruitment firm. His spouse was also sanctioned for owning and managing the firm. Another individual with two citizenships was also sanctioned for managing a company accused of processing money and salaries for the network employing the mercenaries. "In 2024 and 2025, companies in America associated with this individual conducted numerous wire transfers, amounting to many millions of US dollars," the official announcement read. Firm Establishment and Intensifying Conflict In spring of this year, the sanctioned individuals registered a firm in the UK capital named ODP8 Ltd – later re-branded Zeuz Global. Three days later, the RSF attacked the Zamzam camp for displaced people, slaughtering more than 1,500 innocent people. After its seizure, the camp was transferred to Colombian mercenaries, who began preparations for attacking El Fasher. The penalized people are named in Companies House records as owning "starting shares" in the company, with one identified as a key controller. The two describe Britain as their "place of residency". Effect on the War and Broader Concerns The hiring of the Colombians has had a significant effect on the trajectory of the war, analysts say. These nationals have reportedly instructed minors to be combatants, as well as acting as marksmen, infantrymen, trainers, and pilots for drones. These aircraft were key in the fall of El Fasher and during combat in other regions. "The war in Sudan is a hi-tech one, with guided weapons and long-range drones causing regular civilian deaths," added the expert. "These systems require outside assistance to operate. We know that the recruitment network has been a major component of this outside support." He added that the involvement of sanctioned individuals in a UK company highlighted broader concerns over the absence of strict vetting when firms are set up. "Owning a UK company like this is a passport for bad actors to do deals with legitimate counterparts. It's still more difficult to join a gym in most cases than to set up a UK company," he stated. Official Reaction and Ongoing Allegations A UK official said that the new rollout of "mandatory identity verification" for corporate officers would provide more confidence about who was establishing and controlling UK companies. The Colombians’ involvement in Sudan first came to light last year, leading to an expression of regret 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, repeatedly alleged of arming the RSF, has also been connected to the recruitment of Colombian mercenaries. A investigation alleged that Emirati business people providing Colombians to the RSF were linked to a high-ranking Emirati figure. The UAE has repeatedly rejected these allegations. A British government spokesperson commented: "The UK is calling for an immediate end to atrocities, the protection of civilians, and the lifting of obstacles to humanitarian access." They added that the UK had recently imposed restrictions on RSF commanders for their role in the atrocities in El Fasher.