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The Washington has imposed sanctions on a network of four individuals and four companies accused of enlisting former Colombian soldiers to fight for and train a Sudanese paramilitary group that Washington accuses of genocidal acts.

Network Composition

Announcing the sanctions on this week, the American treasury stated the network was mostly comprised of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Hundreds of former Colombian military personnel have been recruited to go to Sudan to operate with the RSF paramilitary group, a force implicated in horrific war crimes including ethnically targeted slaughter and large-scale abductions.

Discovery of Participation

The role of these mercenaries first came to light in 2024, following an inquiry which revealed that over three hundred retired troops had been hired to fight – an revelation that resulted in an unusual statement of regret from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

Former Colombian military have long been considered as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their considerable warzone knowledge acquired during a long-running domestic war, knowledge of advanced weaponry, and elite military instruction.

Reported Actions

In the conflict, the Colombians have been accused of teaching child soldiers, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and engaged in frontline combat. A mercenary was quoted as saying that instructing minors was "awful and crazy" but added that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those penalized was a retired Colombian officer, a individual with dual citizenship and former army officer operating from the UAE. The US authorities said he had a pivotal function in recruiting and deploying ex-military personnel to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was also sanctioned.

Also on the restricted list was Mateo Duque Botero, a dual national who the Treasury stated oversaw a company implicated in managing finances and payments for the scheme. "In 2024 and 2025, US-based firms connected to Duque engaged in several money transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the Treasury statement said.

Individual Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the other individual to be targeted, with the firm she operated accused of money transfers associated with Duque and his operations.

"The US once more urges foreign parties to halt the flow of financial and military support to the belligerents," the department stated.

Analyst Commentary

An expert, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, labeled the actions as a "very significant" development, noting that "targeting the enablers is the proper strategy".

Furthermore, Bogotá recently passed a law ratifying the global treaty against mercenarism, designed to limit decades of Colombian involvement in international fights and change its security approach.

Another expert, a authority on private military contractors, called for greater wariness, noting that "restrictions are needed but not enough for combating rampant mercenarism".

"It’s an illicit economy and operating from the Emirates, which is relatively sanction-proof," he stated. The UAE has been frequently alleged of arming the RSF, allegations it disputes. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," he advised.