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The United States has imposed sanctions on a group of several persons and entities charged of recruiting Colombian mercenaries to fight for and train a Sudanese paramilitary group the United States claims of acts of genocide.

Group Makeup

Announcing the restrictions on Tuesday, the US Treasury Department stated the network was mostly comprised of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Scores of ex-soldiers from Colombia have reportedly travelled to the Sudanese warzone to combat beside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a force accused of horrific war crimes such as massacres based on ethnicity and widespread kidnappings.

Emergence of Involvement

The participation of ex-soldiers first came to light last year, prompted by an investigation which disclosed that over three hundred retired troops had been contracted to participate in the war – an discovery that prompted an rare mea culpa from the Colombian government.

Colombian ex-soldiers have widely regarded as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their extensive battlefield experience acquired during a long-running domestic war, familiarity with Western military gear, and elite military instruction.

Reported Actions

In Sudan, the Colombians have allegedly instructed child soldiers, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and participated in direct battles. One source previously stated that working with child soldiers was "terrible and insane" but added that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Named Entities

Among those penalized was a retired Colombian officer, a individual with dual citizenship and retired Colombian military officer located in the United Arab Emirates. The Treasury said he had a pivotal function in hiring and sending ex-military personnel to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was penalized as well.

Also on the restricted list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who the Treasury stated managed a business linked to managing finances and payments for the recruitment operation. "In 2024 and 2025, US-based firms linked to Duque conducted numerous wire transfers, amounting to millions," the Treasury statement stated.

Individual Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the fourth individual to be penalized, with the company she managed alleged to have wire transfers linked to Duque and his businesses.

"The United States again calls on outside forces to halt the flow of funding and arms to the warring parties," the Treasury said in a statement.

Analyst Commentary

An expert, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, labeled the measures as a "highly important" development, noting that "identifying the recruiters is the right way to go".

Furthermore, Colombia recently passed a piece of legislation approving the anti-mercenary convention, designed to limit years of participation by its nationals in international fights and reshape domestic defense strategy.

Sean McFate, a authority on private military contractors, called for greater wariness, stating that "penalties are required yet incomplete for combating widespread use of contractors".

"It operates in the black market and based out of Dubai, which is difficult to penalize," he commented. The UAE has been repeatedly implicated of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, claims it rejects. "This trend will probably continue," the expert cautioned.