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The US government has imposed sanctions on a network of four individuals and four companies charged of recruiting Colombian mercenaries to combat alongside and instruct a militia force in Sudan that Washington accuses of genocidal acts.

Network Composition

Announcing the measures on Tuesday, the American treasury stated the operation was mostly comprised of Colombian citizens and firms.

Scores of former Colombian military personnel have been recruited to go to the conflict in Sudan to fight alongside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a faction accused of terrible atrocities including targeted ethnic killings and large-scale abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The involvement of Colombian fighters first came to light in 2024, following an report which found that hundreds of retired troops had been hired to engage in combat – an revelation that prompted an rare mea culpa from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

Colombian ex-soldiers have long been considered as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their vast combat experience acquired during decades of civil war, training on Nato equipment, and high-level combat training.

Reported Actions

In Sudan, the Colombians have been accused of teaching child soldiers, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and engaged in frontline combat. An individual involved previously stated that instructing minors was "awful and crazy" but commented that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Named Entities

Among those penalized was a dual national, a dual Colombian-Italian national and retired Colombian military officer located in the UAE. The government alleged he played a key part in hiring and sending former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was similarly targeted.

Also on the restricted list was Mateo Duque Botero, a dual national who officials alleged ran a firm implicated in handling funds and payroll for the recruitment operation. "Over the past two years, companies in the United States linked to Duque carried out several money transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the Treasury statement noted.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz was the fourth individual to be penalized, with the company she managed alleged to have money transfers associated with Duque and his businesses.

"The US once more urges foreign parties to halt the flow of financial and military support to the warring parties," the Treasury said in a statement.

Analyst Commentary

An expert, with the International Crisis Group, called the actions as a "very significant" milestone, saying that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the correct approach".

Furthermore, the Colombian government ratified a law ratifying the global treaty against mercenarism, seeking to reduce years of participation by its nationals in overseas wars and reshape its security approach.

A mercenary specialist, an expert on mercenaries, advised additional measures, stating that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for dealing with the growing mercenary trade".

"It’s an illicit economy and operating from the UAE, which is relatively sanction-proof," he said. The United Arab Emirates has been frequently alleged of arming the RSF, claims it rejects. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," the expert cautioned.