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The United States has levied restrictions on a network of four individuals and four companies alleged of enlisting Colombian mercenaries to combat alongside and instruct a Sudanese paramilitary group that Washington accuses of genocidal acts.

Group Makeup

Revealing the measures on this week, the US Treasury Department stated the scheme was primarily made up of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Numerous of retired Colombian troops have allegedly journeyed to Sudan to operate with the RSF paramilitary group, a group linked to terrible atrocities such as ethnically targeted slaughter and widespread kidnappings.

Discovery of Participation

The participation of ex-soldiers initially emerged the previous year, following an investigation which disclosed that hundreds of former soldiers had been contracted to participate in the war – an revelation that prompted an unprecedented apology from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

These South American veterans have long been considered as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their vast combat experience gleaned from years of internal conflict, knowledge of Western military gear, and high-level combat training.

Role in the Conflict

In the conflict, the contractors have allegedly instructed underage fighters, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and participated in direct battles. A mercenary remarked that training children was "awful and crazy" but commented that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those targeted was a dual national, a individual with dual citizenship and ex-soldier based in the Dubai. The US authorities accused him a pivotal function in hiring and sending mercenaries to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was penalized as well.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who the Treasury stated managed a business implicated in processing money and salaries for the recruitment operation. "In 2024 and 2025, American entities associated with Duque carried out several money transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the Treasury statement said.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the final person to be sanctioned, with the company she managed alleged to have money transfers linked to Duque and his companies.

"The US once more urges foreign parties to halt the flow of monetary and weaponry aid to the warring parties," the Treasury stated.

Analyst Commentary

Elizabeth Dickinson, with the International Crisis Group, called the sanctions as a "very significant" step, saying that "targeting the enablers is the correct approach".

She added that, Colombia recently passed a piece of legislation ratifying the global treaty against mercenarism, designed to limit decades of Colombian involvement in international fights and reshape national security policy.

Sean McFate, an expert on mercenaries, urged more caution, noting that "restrictions are needed but not enough for addressing the growing mercenary trade".

"It’s an illicit economy and based out of the Emirates, which is difficult to penalize," he commented. The UAE has been widely accused of arming the RSF, an accusation it has denied. "This trend will probably continue," McFate warned.