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The US government has imposed sanctions on a network of several persons and entities alleged of recruiting Colombian mercenaries to support and educate a militia force in Sudan which the US alleges of committing genocide.

Group Makeup

Disclosing the measures on this week, the Treasury stated the scheme was mostly comprised of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Numerous of retired Colombian troops have reportedly travelled to the Sudanese warzone to combat beside the RSF paramilitary group, a force implicated in horrific war crimes such as ethnically targeted slaughter and large-scale abductions.

Discovery of Participation

The involvement of Colombian fighters was first uncovered in 2024, prompted by an investigation which revealed that over three hundred ex-military personnel had been recruited to participate in the war – an revelation that prompted an unusual statement of regret from officials in Bogotá.

Colombian ex-soldiers have historically been seen as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their vast combat experience gleaned from years of internal conflict, knowledge of advanced weaponry, and elite military instruction.

Reported Actions

In Sudan, the Colombians have reportedly trained minors, taught fighters to pilot drones, and participated in direct battles. A mercenary remarked that working with child soldiers was "horrific and irrational" but added that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those penalized was a retired Colombian officer, a individual with dual citizenship and retired Colombian military officer located in the United Arab Emirates. The US authorities accused him a key part in hiring and sending ex-military personnel to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was also sanctioned.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual national who the Treasury stated managed a business linked to processing money and salaries for the network. "Over the past two years, companies in the United States linked to Duque engaged in numerous wire transfers, amounting to millions," the official announcement said.

Individual Mónica Muñoz was the fourth individual to be penalized, with the entity she oversaw alleged to have money transfers associated with Duque and his businesses.

"The United States again calls on external actors to cease providing funding and arms to the warring parties," the Treasury stated.

Reaction

A senior analyst, with the International Crisis Group, described the actions as a "highly important" development, saying that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the right way to go".

She added that, the Colombian government has enacted a piece of legislation approving the anti-mercenary convention, aiming to curb years of participation by its nationals in overseas wars and transform domestic defense strategy.

A mercenary specialist, an expert on mercenaries, called for greater wariness, noting that "restrictions are needed but not enough for addressing widespread use of contractors".

"It operates in the black market and operating from the Emirates, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he said. The UAE has been frequently alleged of providing arms to the militia, claims it rejects. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," he advised.