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The US government has enforced penalties on a network of four people and four firms accused of recruiting former Colombian soldiers to combat alongside and instruct a Sudanese paramilitary group that Washington accuses of acts of genocide.

Group Makeup

Revealing the measures on Tuesday, the Treasury stated the scheme was largely composed of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Hundreds of retired Colombian troops have reportedly travelled to the Sudanese warzone to combat beside the Sudanese RSF militia, a force linked to horrific war crimes encompassing ethnically targeted slaughter and mass abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The involvement of Colombian fighters first came to light the previous year, following an inquiry which found that hundreds of retired troops had been hired to participate in the war – an discovery that prompted an unprecedented apology from officials in Bogotá.

These South American veterans have long been considered as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their considerable warzone knowledge acquired during decades of civil war, familiarity with advanced weaponry, and elite military instruction.

Role in the Conflict

In Sudan, the Colombians have been accused of teaching child soldiers, provided drone warfare training, and participated in direct battles. One source was quoted as saying that working with child soldiers was "terrible and insane" but added that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Targeted Persons

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 ex-military personnel to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was similarly targeted.

Also on the restricted list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual national who authorities say oversaw a company implicated in handling funds and payroll for the recruitment operation. "In 2024 and 2025, companies in the United States linked to Duque conducted several money transfers, amounting to millions," the official announcement noted.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz was the fourth individual to be sanctioned, with the entity she oversaw alleged to have money transfers connected to Duque and his businesses.

"The US once more urges outside forces to stop giving financial and military support to the combatants," the Treasury said in a statement.

Expert Analysis

A senior analyst, with the International Crisis Group, called the sanctions as a "highly important" step, noting that "identifying the recruiters is the correct approach".

She added that, the Colombian government has enacted a law ratifying the global treaty against mercenarism, seeking to reduce decades of Colombian involvement in foreign conflicts and transform domestic defense strategy.

Another expert, an expert on mercenaries, called for greater wariness, noting that "penalties are required yet incomplete for dealing with rampant mercenarism".

"It’s an illicit economy and based out of the Emirates, which is relatively sanction-proof," he said. The UAE has been widely accused of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, claims it rejects. "This trend will probably continue," he advised.