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The Washington has imposed sanctions on a group of several persons and entities accused of enlisting Colombian mercenaries to combat alongside and instruct a armed faction in Sudan which the US alleges of genocidal acts.

Network Composition

Revealing the sanctions on this week, the American treasury stated the operation was largely composed of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Hundreds of former Colombian military personnel have allegedly journeyed to Sudan to fight alongside the RSF paramilitary group, a group accused of horrific war crimes including targeted ethnic killings and large-scale abductions.

Discovery of Participation

The role of these mercenaries initially emerged in 2024, prompted by an report which revealed that over three hundred ex-military personnel had been hired to fight – an event that resulted in an unprecedented apology from the Colombian government.

Former Colombian military have long been considered as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their extensive battlefield experience resulting from decades of civil war, knowledge of advanced weaponry, and elite military instruction.

Activities in Sudan

In Sudan, the Colombians have allegedly instructed minors, provided drone warfare training, and participated in direct battles. An individual involved was quoted as saying that working with child soldiers was "terrible and insane" but added that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those targeted was a retired Colombian officer, a individual with dual citizenship and former army officer based in the UAE. The US authorities said he had a pivotal function in enlisting and transporting former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was similarly targeted.

Also on the sanctions list was Duque Botero, a dual national who authorities say oversaw a company linked to managing finances and payments for the network. "In 2024 and 2025, American entities associated with Duque carried out multiple financial transactions, totalling millions of US dollars," the government release said.

Individual Mónica Muñoz was the fourth individual to be penalized, with the entity she oversaw accused of money transfers connected to Duque and his companies.

"The United States again calls on outside forces to halt the flow of funding and arms to the warring parties," the Treasury said in a statement.

Expert Analysis

A senior analyst, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, described the actions as a "very significant" development, stating that "identifying the recruiters is the right way to go".

She added that, Bogotá recently passed a piece of legislation endorsing the anti-mercenary convention, seeking to reduce its citizens' long history in overseas wars and reshape 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 operates in the black market and based out of Dubai, which is relatively sanction-proof," he stated. The Emirati government has been repeatedly implicated of arming the RSF, allegations it disputes. "This trend will probably continue," he advised.