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The United States has imposed sanctions on a network of four people and four firms charged of recruiting former Colombian soldiers to fight for and train a Sudanese paramilitary group that Washington accuses of committing genocide.

Operation Structure

Announcing the restrictions on Tuesday, the Treasury stated the network was primarily made up of Colombian citizens and firms.

Hundreds of ex-soldiers from Colombia have reportedly travelled to the conflict in Sudan to operate with the RSF paramilitary group, a group linked to severe violations encompassing ethnically targeted slaughter and mass abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The participation of ex-soldiers initially emerged last year, following an report which disclosed that more than 300 former soldiers had been hired to fight – an discovery that prompted an unusual statement of regret from officials in Bogotá.

These South American veterans have widely regarded as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their extensive battlefield experience acquired during decades of civil war, training on Nato equipment, and superior tactical education.

Role in the Conflict

In the Sudanese theater, the contractors have been accused of teaching underage fighters, taught fighters to pilot drones, and participated in direct battles. A mercenary remarked that instructing minors was "awful and crazy" but noted that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Named Entities

Among those targeted was a dual national, a individual with dual citizenship and ex-soldier located in the United Arab Emirates. The government accused him a key part in recruiting and deploying ex-military personnel to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was also sanctioned.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who authorities say ran a firm implicated in managing finances and payments for the network. "In 2024 and 2025, US-based firms connected to Duque conducted several money transfers, amounting to millions," the government release said.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz was the final person to be targeted, with the firm she operated accused of money transfers linked to Duque and his operations.

"The United States again calls on external actors to cease providing financial and military support to the combatants," the department said in a statement.

Reaction

Elizabeth Dickinson, with the International Crisis Group, described the sanctions as a "highly important" milestone, stating that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the correct approach".

Furthermore, the Colombian government ratified a law ratifying the global treaty against mercenarism, seeking to reduce years of participation by its nationals in overseas wars and reshape domestic defense strategy.

Sean McFate, a authority on private military contractors, advised additional measures, stating that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for addressing rampant mercenarism".

"This is a shadow economy and based out of Dubai, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he commented. The Emirati government has been repeatedly implicated of arming the RSF, an accusation it has denied. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," he advised.