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The United States has enforced penalties on a network of four people and four firms alleged of enlisting former Colombian soldiers to combat alongside and instruct a militia force in Sudan the United States claims of genocidal acts.

Network Composition

Disclosing the restrictions on Tuesday, the Treasury stated the network was mostly comprised of Colombian citizens and firms.

Scores of ex-soldiers from Colombia have reportedly travelled to the Sudanese warzone to operate with the RSF paramilitary group, a group implicated in horrific war crimes such as massacres based on ethnicity and widespread kidnappings.

Revelation of Role

The role of these mercenaries was first uncovered in 2024, following an investigation which found that more than 300 retired troops had been recruited to engage in combat – an revelation that led to an rare mea culpa from the Colombian government.

Colombian ex-soldiers have long been considered as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their vast combat experience gleaned from years of internal conflict, familiarity with advanced weaponry, and superior tactical education.

Reported Actions

In the Sudanese theater, the contractors have reportedly trained minors, provided drone warfare training, and fought directly on the frontlines. An individual involved remarked that training children was "awful and crazy" but commented that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those sanctioned was a retired Colombian officer, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and retired Colombian military officer located in the UAE. The Treasury accused him a central role in enlisting and transporting ex-military personnel to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was penalized as well.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Duque Botero, a dual national who the Treasury stated managed a business linked to managing finances and payments for the recruitment operation. "In 2024 and 2025, US-based firms connected to Duque engaged in multiple financial transactions, worth millions," the official announcement stated.

Individual Mónica Muñoz was the final person to be penalized, with the company she managed said to have conducted money transfers connected to Duque and his companies.

"Washington reiterates its demand for foreign parties to halt the flow of monetary and weaponry aid to the combatants," the department announced.

Reaction

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

It was also noted that, the Colombian government recently passed a piece of legislation approving the anti-mercenary convention, seeking to reduce its citizens' long history in overseas wars and transform its security approach.

A mercenary specialist, a authority on private military contractors, advised additional measures, saying that "penalties are required yet incomplete for dealing with widespread use of contractors".

"It operates in the black market and based out of the UAE, which is difficult to penalize," he stated. The Emirati government has been frequently alleged of arming the RSF, allegations it disputes. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," McFate warned.