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The United States has levied restrictions on a group of four people and four firms charged of hiring former Colombian soldiers to support and educate a armed faction in Sudan which the US alleges of genocidal acts.

Group Makeup

Revealing the restrictions on this week, the American treasury stated the network was largely composed of Colombian citizens and firms.

Scores of former Colombian military personnel have allegedly journeyed to the conflict in Sudan to operate with the RSF paramilitary group, a group accused of severe violations such as targeted ethnic killings and large-scale abductions.

Discovery of Participation

The participation of ex-soldiers first came to light the previous year, after an report which revealed that more than 300 ex-military personnel had been hired to engage in combat – an event that prompted an unusual statement of regret from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

Colombian ex-soldiers have widely regarded as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their extensive battlefield experience gleaned from a long-running domestic war, familiarity with Nato equipment, and superior tactical education.

Reported Actions

In the Sudanese theater, the Colombians have reportedly trained underage fighters, provided drone warfare training, and fought directly on the frontlines. One source remarked that working with child soldiers was "terrible and insane" but commented that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Targeted Persons

Among those penalized was a retired Colombian officer, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and retired Colombian military officer based in the UAE. The government accused him a central role in recruiting and deploying former Colombian soldiers 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 the Treasury stated managed a business linked to handling funds and payroll for the recruitment operation. "In 2024 and 2025, companies in the United States linked to Duque conducted numerous wire transfers, worth millions," the Treasury statement stated.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz was the other individual to be sanctioned, with the entity she oversaw accused of financial transactions connected to Duque and his companies.

"The US once more urges external actors to cease providing monetary and weaponry aid to the combatants," the Treasury said in a statement.

Reaction

Elizabeth Dickinson, with the International Crisis Group, called the measures as a "highly important" step, noting that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the correct approach".

It was also noted that, Colombia recently passed a law approving the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, seeking to reduce its citizens' long history in foreign conflicts and transform national security policy.

Sean McFate, a authority on private military contractors, urged more caution, saying that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for addressing rampant mercenarism".

"It operates in the black market and based out of the Emirates, which is difficult to penalize," he stated. The Emirati government has been repeatedly implicated of arming the RSF, allegations it disputes. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," he advised.