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The United States has levied restrictions on a group of four individuals and four companies charged of hiring former Colombian soldiers to combat alongside and instruct a militia force in Sudan the United States claims of genocidal acts.

Network Composition

Disclosing the sanctions on this week, the American treasury stated the scheme 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 operate with the Sudanese RSF militia, a force implicated in terrible atrocities encompassing targeted ethnic killings and widespread kidnappings.

Revelation of Role

The role of these mercenaries was first uncovered last year, prompted by an investigation which disclosed that hundreds of ex-military personnel had been recruited to engage in combat – an event that resulted in an rare mea culpa from officials in Bogotá.

Former Colombian military have historically been seen as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their considerable warzone knowledge acquired during years of internal conflict, training on advanced weaponry, and elite military instruction.

Role in the Conflict

In the conflict, the contractors have been accused of teaching underage fighters, taught fighters to pilot drones, and fought directly on the frontlines. A mercenary remarked that working with child soldiers was "horrific and irrational" but commented that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Named Entities

Among those penalized was a dual national, a individual with dual citizenship and former army officer operating from the Dubai. The government accused him a pivotal function in enlisting and transporting ex-military personnel to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was also sanctioned.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who officials alleged oversaw a company implicated in handling funds and payroll for the recruitment operation. "In 2024 and 2025, US-based firms connected to Duque engaged in numerous wire transfers, amounting to millions," the official announcement noted.

Individual Mónica Muñoz was the fourth individual to be penalized, with the firm she operated said to have conducted money transfers connected to Duque and his operations.

"Washington reiterates its demand for outside forces to cease providing financial and military support to the combatants," the agency announced.

Reaction

Elizabeth Dickinson, with the International Crisis Group, labeled the measures as a "very significant" step, stating that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the proper strategy".

Furthermore, Bogotá ratified a statute approving the global treaty against mercenarism, designed to limit decades of Colombian involvement in overseas wars and transform its security approach.

Another expert, an expert on mercenaries, urged more caution, noting that "restrictions are needed but not enough for combating the growing mercenary trade".

"It’s an illicit economy and centered in the Emirates, which is difficult to penalize," he said. The UAE has been repeatedly implicated of providing arms to the militia, claims it rejects. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," he advised.