A London flat registered to a UK company has been linked to a global mercenary recruitment network accused of helping fuel mass atrocities in Sudan, raising serious questions about how sanctioned individuals were able to operate through a UK-registered firm.
The discovery places Britain at the centre of a network accused by the United States of recruiting hundreds of former Colombian soldiers to fight alongside Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces, a paramilitary group blamed for widespread war crimes and acts of genocide.
London address linked to Sudan war
The address in question is a one-bedroom flat near Tottenham Hotspur’s football stadium in north London.
According to UK government records, the flat is registered to a company connected to individuals sanctioned by the US Treasury for organising the recruitment of Colombian mercenaries for the Rapid Support Forces.
Investigators say the link highlights how corporate structures in the UK can be exploited to support violent conflicts thousands of miles away.
Colombian mercenaries deployed in Sudan
Hundreds of former Colombian military personnel have been recruited to fight in Sudan’s civil war, supporting the RSF during key military offensives.
Analysts say Colombian fighters played a direct role in the capture of El Fasher in late October, an assault followed by mass killings that are estimated to have claimed at least 60,000 lives.
The RSF has been accused of mass rape, ethnic cleansing and the systematic killing of civilians, including women and children.
UK company tied to sanctioned individuals
The London flat is registered to a firm called Zeuz Global, which UK records show was set up by individuals sanctioned by the United States last week.
Both founders are Colombian nationals in their 50s and are listed in Companies House filings as living in the UK.
US authorities say the individuals played central roles in recruiting, funding and deploying Colombian mercenaries to Sudan.
Sudden move to luxury London address
After US sanctions were announced on 9 December, Zeuz Global updated its registered address the following day.
The new postcode corresponds to One Aldwych, a five-star hotel in Covent Garden, although the address line confusingly references a nearby luxury hotel, the Waldorf Hilton.
Both hotels said they have no connection to the company and no explanation for the use of their addresses.
Experts say the move raises red flags about attempts to obscure a company’s true location and activities.
Concerns over UK oversight
Security experts and former UN investigators have raised serious concerns about how individuals accused of fuelling Sudan’s civil war were able to register and operate a UK company.
Mike Lewis, a former member of the UN panel of experts on Sudan, said the situation exposes weaknesses in corporate oversight and identity checks.
He said UK-registered companies can provide criminals with a veneer of legitimacy, making it easier to transact with banks and international partners.
Sanctions and recruitment network detailed
According to the US Treasury, the recruitment network is led by a retired Colombian military officer based in the United Arab Emirates, who holds dual Colombian and Italian nationality.
US officials say he used a Bogotá-based employment agency to recruit former soldiers for deployment to Sudan.
His wife was sanctioned for owning and managing the agency, while another dual Colombian-Spanish national was accused of managing payroll and financial transfers for the operation.
The US Treasury said millions of dollars were moved through companies linked to the network during 2024 and 2025.
UK firm registered amid escalating violence
Companies House records show that a company later renamed Zeuz Global was registered in north London in April with £10,000 in capital.
Just days after its registration, RSF forces attacked the Zamzam displacement camp, killing more than 1,500 civilians.
After the camp fell, Colombian mercenaries reportedly took control of the site and prepared for the assault on El Fasher.
Role in high-tech warfare
Analysts say Colombian mercenaries have had a significant impact on the conflict by operating advanced weapons systems.
They are accused of training child soldiers, acting as snipers and infantry, and serving as instructors and drone pilots.
Drones operated with external expertise were reportedly decisive in the fall of El Fasher and fighting across Kordofan and Darfur.
UK corporate rules under scrutiny
Lewis said the case highlights longstanding concerns over UK shell companies being used to broker weapons and military assistance to sanctioned actors.
He said it is often easier to set up a UK company than to pass basic checks required for everyday services such as gym memberships.
Previous investigations have linked UK shell companies to arms trafficking in Sudan, South Sudan, Libya and even extremist groups.
Government response and reforms
A UK government source said recent reforms, including mandatory identity verification for company directors and people with significant control, are designed to prevent abuse of the corporate register.
New enforcement powers for Companies House are intended to tackle false information and improve cooperation with law enforcement agencies.
However, critics argue the reforms may not go far enough to prevent exploitation by sophisticated international networks.
Wider international links
The involvement of Colombian mercenaries in Sudan first emerged last year following an investigation by a Colombian media outlet, prompting an apology from Colombia’s foreign ministry.
The United Arab Emirates has also been linked by investigators to the recruitment network, although it has consistently denied supplying arms or fighters to the RSF.
A recent investigative report alleged links between Emirati business figures involved in the operation and a senior UAE official.
UK condemns atrocities in Sudan
The British government has condemned RSF actions in Sudan, with ministers describing the group’s conduct in El Fasher as involving systematic killings, torture and sexual violence.
A government spokesperson said the UK has sanctioned RSF commanders and is calling for an immediate end to atrocities, protection of civilians and unimpeded humanitarian access.
The revelations have intensified calls for tighter scrutiny of UK companies to ensure Britain’s financial and legal systems are not used to support war crimes abroad.
