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The US government has levied restrictions on a network of four individuals and four companies alleged of recruiting former Colombian soldiers to fight for and train a armed faction in Sudan that Washington accuses of genocidal acts.

Network Composition

Disclosing the sanctions on this week, the American treasury stated the operation was primarily made up of Colombian citizens and firms.

Scores of ex-soldiers from Colombia have been recruited to go to the conflict in Sudan to combat beside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a faction accused of horrific war crimes encompassing targeted ethnic killings and large-scale abductions.

Revelation of Role

The role of these mercenaries initially emerged last year, following an report which revealed that hundreds of ex-military personnel had been hired to participate in the war – an revelation that resulted in an unusual statement of regret from the Colombian government.

These South American veterans have widely regarded as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their vast combat experience resulting from decades of civil war, training on Nato equipment, and elite military instruction.

Activities in Sudan

In the Sudanese theater, the mercenaries have allegedly instructed underage fighters, provided drone warfare training, and fought directly on the frontlines. An individual involved previously stated that working with child soldiers was "awful and crazy" but noted that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Named Entities

Among those penalized was a retired Colombian officer, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and ex-soldier based in the United Arab Emirates. The government said he had a pivotal function in hiring and sending ex-military personnel to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was similarly targeted.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who the Treasury stated oversaw a company accused of managing finances and payments for the scheme. "In 2024 and 2025, American entities connected to Duque engaged in numerous wire transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the official announcement stated.

Individual Mónica Muñoz was the other individual to be sanctioned, with the entity she oversaw accused of financial transactions connected to Duque and his operations.

"The US once more urges external actors to halt the flow of financial and military support to the warring parties," the department announced.

Expert Analysis

A senior analyst, with the International Crisis Group, described the sanctions as a "very significant" milestone, stating that "targeting the enablers is the correct approach".

Furthermore, the Colombian government has enacted a piece of legislation approving the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, aiming to curb its citizens' long history in foreign conflicts and reshape national security policy.

A mercenary specialist, a scholar on the subject, called for greater wariness, stating that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for dealing with widespread use of contractors".

"It’s an illicit economy and based out of the Emirates, which is difficult to penalize," he said. The UAE has been widely accused of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, an accusation it has denied. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," McFate warned.