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The United States has levied restrictions on a network of four people and four firms charged of recruiting Colombian mercenaries to fight for and train a armed faction in Sudan the United States claims of committing genocide.

Group Makeup

Revealing the measures on this week, the American treasury stated the scheme was largely composed of Colombian citizens and firms.

Numerous of former Colombian military personnel have allegedly journeyed to the conflict in Sudan to operate with the RSF paramilitary group, a group accused of severe violations including massacres based on ethnicity and large-scale abductions.

Discovery of Participation

The involvement of Colombian fighters initially emerged the previous year, prompted by an investigation which disclosed that hundreds of ex-military personnel had been contracted to fight – an revelation that resulted in an unprecedented apology from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

Former Colombian military have historically been seen as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their extensive battlefield experience gleaned from decades of civil war, familiarity with Western military gear, and high-level combat training.

Activities in Sudan

In the Sudanese theater, the Colombians have reportedly trained minors, provided drone warfare training, and participated in direct battles. One source was quoted as saying that instructing minors was "awful and crazy" but commented that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Named Entities

Among those penalized was a dual national, a individual with dual citizenship and retired Colombian military officer operating from the UAE. The government alleged he played a pivotal function in recruiting and deploying mercenaries to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was also sanctioned.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Duque Botero, a dual national who officials alleged oversaw a company accused of managing finances and payments for the recruitment operation. "In 2024 and 2025, US-based firms associated with Duque carried out multiple financial transactions, amounting to millions," the Treasury statement noted.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz was the final person to be targeted, with the entity she oversaw accused of financial transactions associated with Duque and his operations.

"The US once more urges external actors to stop giving monetary and weaponry aid to the belligerents," the agency announced.

Analyst Commentary

A senior analyst, with the International Crisis Group, described the sanctions as a "highly important" step, saying that "identifying the recruiters is the correct approach".

She added that, Colombia recently passed a law endorsing the global treaty against mercenarism, seeking to reduce years of participation by its nationals in foreign conflicts and change its security approach.

Another expert, a authority on private military contractors, advised additional measures, noting that "penalties are required yet incomplete for combating rampant mercenarism".

"It’s an illicit economy and centered in Dubai, which is difficult to penalize," he said. The Emirati government has been frequently alleged of arming the RSF, claims it rejects. "This trend will probably continue," he advised.