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The United States has imposed sanctions on a operation of four people and four firms accused of recruiting Colombian mercenaries to support and educate a Sudanese paramilitary group that Washington accuses of acts of genocide.

Network Composition

Revealing the sanctions on this week, the American treasury stated the scheme was primarily made up of Colombian nationals and companies.

Hundreds of former Colombian military personnel have reportedly travelled to the Sudanese warzone to fight alongside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a faction accused of terrible atrocities encompassing targeted ethnic killings and large-scale abductions.

Revelation of Role

The involvement of Colombian fighters was first uncovered in 2024, after an report which revealed that more than 300 retired troops had been contracted to engage in combat – an revelation that resulted in an unprecedented apology from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

Colombian ex-soldiers have historically been seen as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their extensive battlefield experience resulting from a long-running domestic war, training on Western military gear, and high-level combat training.

Role in the Conflict

In the conflict, the Colombians have allegedly instructed child soldiers, provided drone warfare training, and engaged in frontline combat. One source was quoted as saying that working with child soldiers was "awful and crazy" but added that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those sanctioned was a dual national, a dual Colombian-Italian national and former army officer based in the United Arab Emirates. The government accused him a pivotal function in hiring and sending former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was similarly targeted.

Also on the restricted list was Mateo Duque Botero, a dual national who officials alleged managed a business linked to processing money and salaries for the recruitment operation. "In 2024 and 2025, companies in the United States connected to Duque conducted numerous wire transfers, amounting to millions," the Treasury statement stated.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz was the final person to be penalized, with the firm she operated accused of wire transfers connected to Duque and his companies.

"The United States again calls on outside forces to cease providing financial and military support to the belligerents," the Treasury announced.

Reaction

An expert, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, called the sanctions as a "major" milestone, stating that "targeting the enablers is the correct approach".

It was also noted that, the Colombian government has enacted a law ratifying the global treaty against mercenarism, aiming to curb its citizens' long history in international fights and change domestic defense strategy.

Sean McFate, a authority on private military contractors, urged more caution, noting that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for dealing with widespread use of contractors".

"It’s an illicit economy and operating from the Emirates, which is difficult to penalize," he said. The Emirati government has been widely accused of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, claims it rejects. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," McFate warned.