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The United States has levied restrictions on a operation of four individuals and four companies charged of recruiting Colombian mercenaries to support and educate a armed faction in Sudan the United States claims of genocidal acts.

Network Composition

Revealing the measures on this week, the US Treasury Department stated the network was largely composed of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Numerous of retired Colombian troops have reportedly travelled to Sudan to fight alongside the RSF paramilitary group, a force implicated in horrific war crimes such as targeted ethnic killings and widespread kidnappings.

Emergence of Involvement

The participation of ex-soldiers initially emerged the previous year, after an investigation which found that more than 300 retired troops had been contracted to participate in the war – an event that prompted an rare mea culpa from the Colombian government.

These South American veterans have long been considered as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their extensive battlefield experience resulting from years of internal conflict, training on Western military gear, and elite military instruction.

Role in the Conflict

In Sudan, the Colombians have allegedly instructed underage fighters, taught fighters to pilot drones, and participated in direct battles. An individual involved was quoted as saying that working with child soldiers was "terrible and insane" but commented that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those targeted was a retired Colombian officer, a dual Colombian-Italian national and retired Colombian military officer based in the Dubai. The US authorities said he had a central role in hiring and sending mercenaries to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was also sanctioned.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who authorities say ran a firm accused of processing money and salaries for the recruitment operation. "In 2024 and 2025, US-based firms linked to Duque engaged in multiple financial transactions, amounting to millions," the Treasury statement said.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz was the other individual to be penalized, with the firm she operated said to have conducted financial transactions connected to Duque and his operations.

"The US once more urges foreign parties to stop giving funding and arms to the warring parties," the agency stated.

Analyst Commentary

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

She added that, Bogotá ratified a piece of legislation endorsing the anti-mercenary convention, designed to limit years of participation by its nationals in international fights and transform national security policy.

Sean McFate, a authority on private military contractors, urged more caution, stating that "restrictions are needed but not enough for combating the growing mercenary trade".

"This is a shadow economy and operating from the Emirates, which is relatively sanction-proof," he said. The UAE has been repeatedly implicated of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, an accusation it has denied. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," the expert cautioned.