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The United States has imposed sanctions on a group of several persons and entities accused of recruiting former Colombian soldiers to combat alongside and instruct a militia force in Sudan that Washington accuses of genocidal acts.

Network Composition

Announcing the sanctions on Tuesday, the American treasury stated the network was primarily made up of Colombian citizens and firms.

Numerous of former Colombian military personnel have allegedly journeyed to the Sudanese warzone to operate with the Sudanese RSF militia, a group linked to horrific war crimes encompassing targeted ethnic killings and widespread kidnappings.

Discovery of Participation

The role of these mercenaries initially emerged last year, after an report which disclosed that over three hundred retired troops had been recruited to participate in the war – an revelation that prompted an unusual statement of regret from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

Colombian ex-soldiers have historically been seen as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their vast combat experience acquired during decades of civil war, familiarity with advanced weaponry, and elite military instruction.

Activities in Sudan

In the Sudanese theater, the mercenaries have allegedly instructed minors, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and engaged in frontline combat. A mercenary previously stated that training children was "awful and crazy" but added that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those targeted was a retired Colombian officer, a individual with dual citizenship and retired Colombian military officer located in the United Arab Emirates. The Treasury alleged he played a pivotal function in recruiting and deploying mercenaries to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was penalized as well.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who authorities say ran a firm accused of managing finances and payments for the recruitment operation. "In 2024 and 2025, US-based firms linked to Duque engaged in numerous wire transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the Treasury statement said.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the final person to be penalized, with the company she managed accused of wire transfers associated with Duque and his operations.

"The US once more urges external actors to stop giving monetary and weaponry aid to the belligerents," the Treasury said in a statement.

Analyst Commentary

A senior analyst, with the International Crisis Group, described the measures as a "major" milestone, noting that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the right way to go".

She added that, Colombia ratified a piece of legislation ratifying the global treaty against mercenarism, designed to limit years of participation by its nationals in overseas wars and transform its security approach.

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

"It’s an illicit economy and based out of the Emirates, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he stated. The Emirati government has been repeatedly implicated of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, claims it rejects. "This trend will probably continue," McFate warned.