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The United States has imposed sanctions on a network of four individuals and four companies charged of hiring former Colombian soldiers to support and educate a militia force in Sudan the United States claims of genocidal acts.

Group Makeup

Disclosing the sanctions on this week, the American treasury stated the network was mostly comprised of Colombian citizens and firms.

Hundreds of retired Colombian troops have reportedly travelled to Sudan to operate with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a group accused of horrific war crimes such as massacres based on ethnicity and widespread kidnappings.

Discovery of Participation

The role of these mercenaries first came to light the previous year, following an inquiry which disclosed that over three hundred former soldiers had been hired to participate in the war – an discovery that resulted in an unprecedented apology from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

Colombian ex-soldiers have widely regarded as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their vast combat experience gleaned from years of internal conflict, training on Nato equipment, and elite military instruction.

Activities in Sudan

In Sudan, the contractors have allegedly instructed child soldiers, taught fighters to pilot drones, and participated in direct battles. One source previously stated that instructing minors was "horrific and irrational" but noted that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Targeted Persons

Among those sanctioned was a dual national, a individual with dual citizenship and ex-soldier operating from the Dubai. The government alleged he played a pivotal function in recruiting and deploying former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was also sanctioned.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual national who authorities say oversaw a company linked to managing finances and payments for the scheme. "In 2024 and 2025, American entities linked to Duque engaged in several money transfers, worth millions," the Treasury statement noted.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the final person to be targeted, with the firm she operated said to have conducted financial transactions linked to Duque and his businesses.

"Washington reiterates its demand for external actors to stop giving financial and military support to the combatants," the agency said in a statement.

Analyst Commentary

A senior analyst, with the International Crisis Group, labeled the actions as a "very significant" milestone, saying that "identifying the recruiters is the right way to go".

She added that, the Colombian government ratified a law approving the global treaty against mercenarism, designed to limit years of participation by its nationals in foreign conflicts and transform domestic defense strategy.

A mercenary specialist, a scholar on the subject, advised additional measures, noting that "restrictions are needed but not enough for combating rampant mercenarism".

"This is a shadow economy and centered in the UAE, which is relatively sanction-proof," he stated. The United Arab Emirates has been repeatedly implicated of providing arms to the militia, allegations it disputes. "This trend will probably continue," he advised.