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The United States has enforced penalties on a operation of four people and four firms charged of hiring Colombian mercenaries to fight for and train a militia force in Sudan that Washington accuses of committing genocide.

Network Composition

Announcing the sanctions on Tuesday, the Treasury stated the scheme was primarily made up of Colombian citizens and firms.

Hundreds of retired Colombian troops have been recruited to go to the Sudanese warzone to operate with the Sudanese RSF militia, a group linked to severe violations such as targeted ethnic killings and large-scale abductions.

Discovery of Participation

The participation of ex-soldiers initially emerged in 2024, after an investigation which disclosed that over three hundred retired troops had been recruited to participate in the war – an discovery that prompted an rare mea culpa from the Colombian government.

Former Colombian military have long been considered as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their considerable warzone knowledge resulting from decades of civil war, knowledge of Western military gear, and superior tactical education.

Reported Actions

In the conflict, the mercenaries have allegedly instructed minors, provided drone warfare training, and participated in direct battles. An individual involved previously stated that training children was "terrible and insane" but added that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Named Entities

Among those targeted was a retired Colombian officer, a individual with dual citizenship and former army officer operating from the United Arab Emirates. The government accused him a key part in recruiting and deploying former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was penalized as well.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who officials alleged ran a firm linked to processing money and salaries for the network. "In 2024 and 2025, American entities linked to Duque engaged in multiple financial transactions, amounting to millions," the Treasury statement stated.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz was the other individual to be targeted, with the firm she operated accused of financial transactions associated with Duque and his operations.

"The United States again calls on foreign parties to cease providing financial and military support to the belligerents," the Treasury announced.

Analyst Commentary

A senior analyst, with the International Crisis Group, described the measures as a "major" milestone, saying that "targeting the enablers is the right way to go".

She added that, Colombia recently passed a piece of legislation endorsing the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, designed to limit years of participation by its nationals in overseas wars and transform domestic defense strategy.

A mercenary specialist, a authority on private military contractors, urged more caution, saying that "penalties are required yet incomplete for combating rampant mercenarism".

"It operates in the black market and centered in the UAE, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he commented. The Emirati government has been widely accused of arming the RSF, an accusation it has denied. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," the expert cautioned.