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The United States has imposed sanctions on a network of several persons and entities alleged of recruiting Colombian mercenaries to support and educate a militia force in Sudan which the US alleges of acts of genocide.

Network Composition

Revealing the restrictions on Tuesday, the American treasury stated the network was primarily made up of Colombian nationals and companies.

Scores of former Colombian military personnel have reportedly travelled to Sudan to combat beside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a group accused of terrible atrocities such as targeted ethnic killings and mass abductions.

Discovery of Participation

The involvement of Colombian fighters initially emerged last year, prompted by an inquiry which revealed that more than 300 former soldiers had been contracted to fight – an event that led to an rare mea culpa from the Colombian government.

Colombian ex-soldiers have historically been seen as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their vast combat experience acquired during decades of civil war, knowledge of advanced weaponry, and high-level combat training.

Role in the Conflict

In Sudan, the Colombians have been accused of teaching minors, provided drone warfare training, and engaged in frontline combat. One source previously stated that instructing minors was "awful and crazy" but noted that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Named Entities

Among those targeted was a retired Colombian officer, a individual with dual citizenship and former army officer operating from the UAE. The government accused him a pivotal function in hiring and sending ex-military personnel to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was similarly targeted.

Also on the restricted list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who officials alleged managed a business accused of managing finances and payments for the network. "In 2024 and 2025, US-based firms associated with Duque engaged in several money transfers, amounting to millions," the government release said.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the other individual to be penalized, with the entity she oversaw alleged to have money transfers linked to Duque and his companies.

"Washington reiterates its demand for foreign parties to halt the flow of monetary and weaponry aid to the warring parties," the department announced.

Expert Analysis

A senior analyst, from a conflict think tank, called the sanctions as a "highly important" development, stating that "identifying the recruiters is the correct approach".

It was also noted that, Bogotá ratified a statute approving the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, designed to limit decades of Colombian involvement in foreign conflicts and change its security approach.

Sean McFate, a scholar on the subject, advised additional measures, noting that "restrictions are needed but not enough for dealing with widespread use of contractors".

"It operates in the black market and operating from the UAE, which is difficult to penalize," he stated. The United Arab Emirates has been widely accused of arming the RSF, claims it rejects. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," he advised.