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The Washington has enforced penalties on a network of four individuals and four companies charged of enlisting Colombian mercenaries to fight for and train a armed faction in Sudan which the US alleges of committing genocide.

Group Makeup

Announcing the restrictions on Tuesday, the Treasury stated the network was primarily made up of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Numerous of former Colombian military personnel have allegedly journeyed to the conflict in Sudan to combat beside the RSF paramilitary group, a faction implicated in terrible atrocities including ethnically targeted slaughter and mass abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The involvement of Colombian fighters first came to light in 2024, prompted by an inquiry which found that over three hundred retired troops had been contracted to participate in the war – an revelation that led to an rare mea culpa from officials in Bogotá.

Former Colombian military have long been considered as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their considerable warzone knowledge resulting from decades of civil war, familiarity with advanced weaponry, and high-level combat training.

Reported Actions

In Sudan, the Colombians have reportedly trained underage fighters, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and fought directly on the frontlines. An individual involved remarked that training children was "awful and crazy" but commented 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 based in the United Arab Emirates. The US authorities alleged he played a pivotal function in enlisting and transporting former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was also sanctioned.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who authorities say ran a firm implicated in managing finances and payments for the network. "In 2024 and 2025, US-based firms linked to Duque conducted several money transfers, amounting to millions," the official announcement noted.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz was the fourth individual to be sanctioned, with the firm she operated alleged to have wire transfers linked to Duque and his companies.

"The US once more urges outside forces to cease providing financial and military support to the combatants," the agency said in a statement.

Reaction

Elizabeth Dickinson, with the International Crisis Group, labeled the actions as a "major" step, saying that "identifying the recruiters is the right way to go".

Furthermore, the Colombian government has enacted a law approving the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, seeking to reduce its citizens' long history in foreign conflicts and change national security policy.

Another expert, a scholar on the subject, urged more caution, noting that "restrictions are needed but not enough for addressing rampant mercenarism".

"It’s an illicit economy and operating from the Emirates, which is difficult to penalize," he stated. The United Arab Emirates has been frequently alleged of arming the RSF, allegations it disputes. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," McFate warned.