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The United States has imposed sanctions on a group of four people and four firms alleged of recruiting Colombian mercenaries to combat alongside and instruct a Sudanese paramilitary group the United States claims of genocidal acts.

Network Composition

Announcing the restrictions on Tuesday, the Treasury stated the operation was largely composed of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Hundreds of ex-soldiers from Colombia have been recruited to go to the Sudanese warzone to fight alongside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a faction implicated in severe violations encompassing targeted ethnic killings and large-scale abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The role of these mercenaries first came to light the previous year, prompted by an report which disclosed that hundreds of former soldiers had been hired to participate in the war – an event that resulted in an unprecedented apology from the Colombian government.

These South American veterans have widely regarded as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their considerable warzone knowledge acquired during a long-running domestic war, training on Nato equipment, 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 remarked that working with child soldiers was "awful and crazy" but added that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Targeted Persons

Among those penalized was a dual national, a dual Colombian-Italian national and former army officer operating from the UAE. The Treasury accused him a pivotal function in enlisting and transporting former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was also sanctioned.

Also on the penalty list was Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who authorities say oversaw a company accused of managing finances and payments for the recruitment operation. "In 2024 and 2025, US-based firms linked to Duque engaged in multiple financial transactions, amounting to millions," the government release stated.

Individual Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the other individual to be sanctioned, with the firm she operated alleged to have money transfers associated with Duque and his companies.

"Washington reiterates its demand for outside forces to cease providing funding and arms to the warring parties," the agency stated.

Reaction

A senior analyst, from a conflict think tank, labeled the sanctions as a "highly important" step, stating that "targeting the enablers is the correct approach".

Furthermore, Bogotá recently passed a statute ratifying the anti-mercenary convention, aiming to curb decades of Colombian involvement in foreign conflicts and transform its security approach.

Another expert, a scholar on the subject, advised additional measures, noting that "penalties are required yet incomplete for dealing with rampant mercenarism".

"This is a shadow economy and based out of the Emirates, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he commented. The United Arab Emirates has been widely accused of providing arms to the militia, an accusation it has denied. "This trend will probably continue," he advised.