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The US government has imposed sanctions on a group of several persons and entities charged of recruiting former Colombian soldiers to combat alongside and instruct a armed faction in Sudan the United States claims of genocidal acts.

Network Composition

Disclosing the measures on Tuesday, the American treasury stated the scheme was mostly comprised of Colombian nationals and companies.

Hundreds of ex-soldiers from Colombia have reportedly travelled to the conflict in Sudan to operate with the RSF paramilitary group, a group accused of severe violations including targeted ethnic killings and widespread kidnappings.

Emergence of Involvement

The participation of ex-soldiers was first uncovered the previous year, prompted by an report which disclosed that more than 300 ex-military personnel had been recruited to participate in the war – an discovery that resulted in an unusual statement of regret from officials in Bogotá.

Former Colombian military have long been considered as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their extensive battlefield experience acquired during decades of civil war, familiarity with Western military gear, and high-level combat training.

Role in the Conflict

In the Sudanese theater, the Colombians have allegedly instructed child soldiers, provided drone warfare training, and fought directly on the frontlines. A mercenary was quoted as saying that training children was "awful and crazy" but added that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Named Entities

Among those penalized was a dual national, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and retired Colombian military officer based in the Dubai. The Treasury alleged he played a pivotal function in enlisting and transporting mercenaries to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was penalized as well.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who authorities say managed a business implicated in processing money and salaries for the recruitment operation. "In 2024 and 2025, US-based firms linked to Duque conducted several money transfers, worth millions," the Treasury statement stated.

Individual Mónica Muñoz was the final person to be targeted, with the firm she operated accused of money transfers linked to Duque and his businesses.

"The United States again calls on external actors to halt the flow of financial and military support to the combatants," the department stated.

Expert Analysis

An expert, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, called the actions as a "major" step, noting that "identifying the recruiters is the proper strategy".

She added that, Colombia recently passed a statute approving the anti-mercenary convention, designed to limit its citizens' long history in international fights and reshape domestic defense strategy.

Sean McFate, a authority on private military contractors, called for greater wariness, saying that "restrictions are needed but not enough for combating the growing mercenary trade".

"It’s an illicit economy and based out of the UAE, which is difficult to penalize," he commented. The UAE has been widely accused of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, an accusation it has denied. "This trend will probably continue," he advised.