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The US government has enforced penalties on a network of four individuals and four companies alleged of recruiting former Colombian soldiers to fight for and train a militia force in Sudan that Washington accuses of committing genocide.

Group Makeup

Revealing the restrictions on this week, the US Treasury Department stated the operation was mostly comprised of Colombian citizens and firms.

Numerous of former Colombian military personnel have been recruited to go to Sudan to combat beside the RSF paramilitary group, a force linked to severe violations such as targeted ethnic killings and mass abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The involvement of Colombian fighters initially emerged the previous year, prompted by an report which disclosed that hundreds of retired troops had been hired to fight – an event that resulted in an unprecedented apology from the Colombian government.

Colombian ex-soldiers have historically been seen as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their extensive battlefield experience resulting from decades of civil war, training on Nato equipment, and elite military instruction.

Activities in Sudan

In the conflict, the contractors have been accused of teaching child soldiers, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and participated in direct battles. An individual involved was quoted as saying that instructing minors was "terrible and insane" but noted that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Sanctioned Individuals

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 Treasury accused him a central role in enlisting and transporting former Colombian soldiers 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 ran a firm linked to handling funds and payroll for the network. "In 2024 and 2025, US-based firms connected to Duque conducted numerous wire transfers, amounting to millions," the Treasury statement said.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz was the other individual to be sanctioned, with the entity she oversaw accused of money transfers linked to Duque and his operations.

"The US once more urges external actors to stop giving funding and arms to the belligerents," the department announced.

Reaction

Elizabeth Dickinson, with the International Crisis Group, labeled the sanctions as a "highly important" milestone, noting that "targeting the enablers is the right way to go".

It was also noted that, Colombia recently passed a law approving the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, aiming to curb decades of Colombian involvement in foreign conflicts and transform national security policy.

A mercenary specialist, a authority on private military contractors, urged more caution, noting that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for dealing with widespread use of contractors".

"It’s an illicit economy and centered in the Emirates, which is difficult to penalize," he commented. The Emirati government has been widely accused of providing arms to the militia, claims it rejects. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," the expert cautioned.