Investigation Links UK-Registered Company to Recruitment of Colombian Mercenaries in Sudan

Records show a London-registered firm tied to sanctioned individuals allegedly routed fighters to the Rapid Support Forces in Sudan’s civil war

A recent investigation has found that a UK-registered company appears to be at the centre of efforts to recruit and organise Colombian mercenaries fighting in Sudan’s brutal civil war, a development that raises concerns about the role of British corporate structures in global conflict dynamics.

The company, Zeuz Global, is registered at addresses in London and is linked in public records to individuals who were recently sanctioned by the United States Treasury for their role in hiring former Colombian military personnel to fight alongside the Rapid Support Forces, a Sudanese paramilitary group accused of widespread atrocities and genocide.

According to British government and corporate records, Zeuz Global was originally registered under the name ODP8 Ltd in April and later changed to its current name, with an initial capital of £10,000.

The firm’s official documents list Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero and Mateo Andrés Duque Botero as key figures, with Oliveros identified as a person of significant control.

Both have been sanctioned by the US for their involvement in recruiting Colombian mercenaries for the RSF, which has been implicated in mass killings and human rights violations during its campaign to capture key cities such as El Fasher in North Darfur.

The relocation of the company’s operational address to central London shortly after sanctions were announced has attracted scrutiny from experts concerned with corporate oversight and enforcement.

Government and investigative sources indicate that Zeuz Global was used as a legal entity from which recruitment and logistical operations were coordinated, including financial transfers that reportedly moved millions of dollars across borders in 2024 and 2025. The use of such a company in the UK has prompted questions about how individuals previously sanctioned by the US were able to register and operate a firm in Britain’s capital.

Critics argue this underscores persistent gaps in corporate vetting processes, even amid recent reforms designed to clamp down on illicit or opaque business activity.

Former Colombian soldiers have been at the forefront of this shadow recruitment network, with some estimates suggesting hundreds have been deployed to Sudan, many of them joining a battalion known as the ‘‘Desert Wolves.’’ They were reportedly engaged in front-line operations, including training units and operating drones, although not all recruits were fully aware of the nature of their assignment when they signed up.

The presence of foreign fighters has contributed to the internationalisation of Sudan’s conflict and drawn condemnation from humanitarian and diplomatic observers, including formal complaints lodged at the United Nations.

British officials have reiterated the UK government’s stance calling for an immediate end to atrocities in Sudan and emphasised ongoing efforts to enhance corporate transparency and border controls.

Measures introduced this year include mandatory identity verification for company directors and persons with significant control to reduce the risk that sanctioned or dubious actors can exploit British corporate vehicles.

The unfolding revelations about Zeuz Global’s role in recruiting Colombian fighters highlight how private networks can intersect with global conflicts, challenging regulators and international partners to tighten oversight in an increasingly transnational private military market.