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The United States has enforced penalties on a group of several persons and entities charged of recruiting former Colombian soldiers to combat alongside and instruct a militia force in Sudan which the US alleges of committing genocide.

Operation Structure

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

Scores of ex-soldiers from Colombia have reportedly travelled to the Sudanese warzone to combat beside the Sudanese RSF militia, a group linked to terrible atrocities including ethnically targeted slaughter and widespread kidnappings.

Discovery of Participation

The role of these mercenaries initially emerged in 2024, after an investigation which found that more than 300 retired troops had been hired to engage in combat – an revelation that led to an unusual statement of regret from the Colombian government.

Former Colombian military have long been considered as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their vast combat experience gleaned from a long-running domestic war, knowledge of Western military gear, and superior tactical education.

Activities in Sudan

In the Sudanese theater, the contractors have been accused of teaching minors, provided drone warfare training, and fought directly on the frontlines. One source remarked that training children was "terrible and insane" but added that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Named Entities

Among those penalized was a retired Colombian officer, a dual Colombian-Italian national and ex-soldier based in the UAE. The government said he had a key part in enlisting and transporting ex-military personnel to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was penalized as well.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual national who authorities say oversaw a company linked to managing finances and payments for the network. "In 2024 and 2025, companies in the United States linked to Duque conducted numerous wire transfers, worth millions," the Treasury statement noted.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz was the other individual to be sanctioned, with the company she managed said to have conducted financial transactions linked to Duque and his businesses.

"The United States again calls on foreign parties to cease providing funding and arms to the combatants," the Treasury said in a statement.

Reaction

A senior analyst, from a conflict think tank, labeled the sanctions as a "highly important" development, noting that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the right way to go".

Furthermore, Colombia ratified a statute approving the anti-mercenary convention, aiming to curb its citizens' long history in foreign conflicts and transform its security approach.

Sean McFate, an expert on mercenaries, called for greater wariness, stating that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for dealing with widespread use of contractors".

"This is a shadow economy and operating from Dubai, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he stated. The UAE has been repeatedly implicated of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, allegations it disputes. "This trend will probably continue," the expert cautioned.