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The US government has levied restrictions on a group of several persons and entities alleged of hiring Colombian mercenaries to support and educate a militia force in Sudan the United States claims of acts of genocide.

Network Composition

Disclosing the restrictions on this week, the US Treasury Department stated the operation was primarily made up of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Scores of retired Colombian troops have been recruited to go to Sudan to fight alongside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a force accused of severe violations including targeted ethnic killings and widespread kidnappings.

Emergence of Involvement

The role of these mercenaries initially emerged last year, after an report which revealed that hundreds of former soldiers had been hired to fight – an revelation that prompted an rare mea culpa from officials in Bogotá.

Former Colombian military have historically been seen as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their vast combat experience acquired during decades of civil war, familiarity with Nato equipment, and elite military instruction.

Role in the Conflict

In the Sudanese theater, the mercenaries have allegedly instructed minors, taught fighters to pilot drones, and participated in direct battles. An individual involved was quoted as saying that working with child soldiers was "terrible and insane" but commented that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Targeted Persons

Among those sanctioned was a dual national, a individual with dual citizenship and ex-soldier operating from the United Arab Emirates. The US authorities accused him a pivotal function in recruiting and deploying ex-military personnel to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was penalized as well.

Also on the restricted list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual national who officials alleged managed a business linked to processing money and salaries for the network. "In 2024 and 2025, American entities associated with Duque carried out several money transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the government release said.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz was the fourth individual to be targeted, with the firm she operated alleged to have financial transactions linked to Duque and his operations.

"Washington reiterates its demand for external actors to halt the flow of monetary and weaponry aid to the belligerents," the department said in a statement.

Reaction

A senior analyst, with the International Crisis Group, described the measures as a "highly important" milestone, saying that "identifying the recruiters is the right way to go".

Furthermore, Colombia ratified a statute approving the anti-mercenary convention, seeking to reduce decades of Colombian involvement in overseas wars and transform national security policy.

Another expert, a authority on private military contractors, advised additional measures, stating that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for dealing with rampant mercenarism".

"This is a shadow economy and centered in Dubai, which is difficult to penalize," he said. The Emirati government has been repeatedly implicated of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, an accusation it has denied. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," McFate warned.