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The US government has levied restrictions on a network of four individuals and four companies alleged of enlisting Colombian mercenaries to combat alongside and instruct a armed faction in Sudan that Washington accuses of acts of genocide.

Network Composition

Announcing the measures on this week, the US Treasury Department stated the operation was largely composed of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Scores of former Colombian military personnel have allegedly journeyed to the conflict in Sudan to combat beside the Sudanese RSF militia, a force accused of severe violations including ethnically targeted slaughter and large-scale abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The participation of ex-soldiers first came to light the previous year, after an report which disclosed that over three hundred former soldiers had been recruited to fight – an event that prompted an unprecedented apology from officials in Bogotá.

These South American veterans have long been considered as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their vast combat experience acquired during a long-running domestic war, familiarity with Nato equipment, and high-level combat training.

Activities in Sudan

In the conflict, the mercenaries have reportedly trained child soldiers, provided drone warfare training, and participated in direct battles. An individual involved previously stated that training children was "horrific and irrational" but commented that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Targeted Persons

Among those targeted was a dual national, a individual with dual citizenship and ex-soldier based in the Dubai. The Treasury said he had a central role in enlisting and transporting former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was similarly targeted.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who the Treasury stated oversaw a company accused of managing finances and payments for the network. "In 2024 and 2025, American entities connected to Duque conducted several money transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the government release said.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz was the fourth individual to be penalized, with the company she managed said to have conducted money transfers associated with Duque and his operations.

"Washington reiterates its demand for external actors to stop giving financial and military support to the combatants," the department announced.

Reaction

Elizabeth Dickinson, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, labeled the sanctions as a "major" step, saying that "identifying the recruiters is the correct approach".

She added that, Colombia has enacted a piece of legislation endorsing the global treaty against mercenarism, aiming to curb its citizens' long history in foreign conflicts and change national security policy.

Another expert, a authority on private military contractors, urged more caution, saying that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for combating rampant mercenarism".

"It operates in the black market and operating from the Emirates, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he commented. The United Arab Emirates has been frequently alleged of providing arms to the militia, allegations it disputes. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," McFate warned.