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The United States has levied restrictions on a network of four individuals and four companies charged of recruiting Colombian mercenaries to support and educate a Sudanese paramilitary group that Washington accuses of committing genocide.

Operation Structure

Announcing the measures on this week, the American treasury stated the network was primarily made up of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Scores of retired Colombian troops have reportedly travelled to Sudan to fight alongside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a group accused of horrific war crimes such as targeted ethnic killings and mass abductions.

Revelation of Role

The participation of ex-soldiers was first uncovered the previous year, following an report which disclosed that more than 300 retired troops had been contracted to participate in the war – an event that resulted in an unprecedented apology from officials in Bogotá.

Former Colombian military have historically been seen as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their vast combat experience acquired during years of internal conflict, knowledge of advanced weaponry, and elite military instruction.

Role in the Conflict

In Sudan, the contractors have allegedly instructed child soldiers, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and participated in direct battles. A mercenary remarked that working with child soldiers was "awful and crazy" but commented that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Named Entities

Among those targeted was a retired Colombian officer, a dual Colombian-Italian national and former army officer operating from the UAE. The government alleged he played a pivotal function in enlisting and transporting mercenaries to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was penalized as well.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Duque Botero, a dual national who authorities say ran a firm accused of managing finances and payments for the recruitment operation. "In 2024 and 2025, American entities associated with Duque carried out several money transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the official announcement said.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the final person to be sanctioned, with the entity she oversaw accused of wire transfers connected to Duque and his businesses.

"Washington reiterates its demand for outside forces to stop giving financial and military support to the belligerents," the department stated.

Reaction

An expert, from a conflict think tank, called the actions as a "major" step, noting that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the proper strategy".

She added that, Bogotá has enacted a piece of legislation ratifying the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, designed to limit its citizens' long history in overseas wars and reshape national security policy.

A mercenary specialist, a scholar on the subject, advised additional measures, noting that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for dealing with the growing mercenary trade".

"This is a shadow economy and operating from Dubai, which is relatively sanction-proof," he said. The Emirati government has been widely accused of arming the RSF, an accusation it has denied. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," McFate warned.