South American Mercenaries in Sudan Allegedly Recruited by British-Based Firms

Situated near the gleaming soccer ground of Tottenham Hotspur in London lies a squat, nondescript apartment building. Behind its unremarkable beige brickwork exists a grim reality: a cramped flat linked to deadly crimes taking place thousands of miles to the south.

According to British official documents, this apartment in the capital is tied to a international web of companies implicated in the mass recruitment of mercenaries to combat in the African nation alongside paramilitaries accused of numerous atrocities and ethnic cleansing.

Hundreds of Former South American Soldiers Recruited

Hundreds of former Colombian military personnel have been recruited to fight with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a armed faction responsible for sexual violence, targeted killings, and the widespread murder of women and children.

These contractors were directly involved in the RSF's capture of the south-western Sudanese city of El Fasher in recent months, which sparked a killing frenzy that analysts say has cost over 60,000 lives.

As reports of atrocities mount, connections have been identified between the fighters hired to overrun El Fasher and locations in the city of London.

London Flat Connected to Censured Company

The apartment in Tottenham is registered to a company called Zeuz Global, established by two individuals identified and sanctioned recently by the American authorities for recruiting contractors to combat for the RSF.

Both figures – citizens of Colombia in their 50s – are listed in documents at Companies House as living in the United Kingdom.

The firm is operational. The following day the United States announced sanctions on those running the recruitment network, Zeuz Global suddenly relocated its official location to the centre of London. Its new postcode corresponds to a five-star hotel in Covent Garden.

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

"This is of major concern that the primary figures the American authorities states are directing this mercenary supply have been able to establish a UK company operating from a apartment in north London," stated an expert, a researcher and former member of a United Nations group on Sudan.

Concerns Voiced Over British Firm Oversight

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

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

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

Contacting Zeuz proved unsuccessful; its online site, set up in spring, was marked as "being built" with no contact details.

Network Led by Retired Officer

According to the American authorities, the man at the centre 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 having a key part in hiring former Colombian soldiers to be sent to Sudan using a Bogotá-based employment agency. His wife was also sanctioned for running the agency.

Another individual with two citizenships was also sanctioned for overseeing a business alleged of handling funds and salaries for the network hiring the mercenaries.

"During 2024 and 2025, companies in America linked with this individual conducted many bank transactions, totalling many millions of US dollars," the US treasury statement said.

Company Registration and Escalating Violence

In April of this year, the sanctioned individuals registered a company in the UK capital named ODP8 Ltd – later re-branded Zeuz Global.

Shortly after, the RSF assaulted the Zamzam camp for displaced people, killing over 1,500 civilians. After its seizure, the site was handed over to Colombian mercenaries, who began planning for assaulting El Fasher.

The penalized people are listed in Companies House records as owning "initial shareholdings" in the firm, with one identified as a key controller.

Both describe Britain as their "country of residence".

Impact on the Conflict and Broader Concerns

The hiring of the Colombians has had a profound impact on the trajectory of the war, analysts say. These fighters have allegedly instructed minors to be combatants, as well as serving as snipers, foot soldiers, trainers, and operators for drones.

These drones proved instrumental in the fall of El Fasher and during fighting in other regions.

"The war in Sudan is a technologically advanced one, with guided weapons and remote aircraft causing daily fatalities," said the expert. "These systems require external help to operate. We know that the recruitment network has been a significant part of this outside support."

He added that the participation of sanctioned individuals in a UK company highlighted broader concerns over the absence of strict vetting when companies are established.

"Having a UK company like this is a license for criminals to do business 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 Continuing Claims

A government source said that the new rollout of "mandatory identity verification" for company directors would provide more confidence about who was setting up and controlling UK firms.

The role of the South Americans in Sudan first emerged last year, leading to an expression of regret from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

One of the fighters recently admitted that he had trained children in Sudan and seen combat in El Fasher.

The United Arab Emirates, long accused of supplying weapons to the RSF, has also been linked to the hiring of the contractors. A investigation alleged that Emirati business people supplying Colombians to the RSF were connected to a high-ranking Emirati figure. The UAE has consistently denied these allegations.

A UK official commented: "The UK is demanding an halt to atrocities, the safety of civilians, and the removal of obstacles to aid delivery."

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