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The Washington has imposed sanctions on a group of four people and four firms alleged of enlisting South American contractors to fight for and train a militia force in Sudan that Washington accuses of genocidal acts.

Group Makeup

Disclosing the restrictions on this week, the US Treasury Department stated the network was primarily made up of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Numerous of former Colombian military personnel have reportedly travelled to the conflict in Sudan to operate with the Sudanese RSF militia, a faction accused of horrific war crimes including targeted ethnic killings and mass abductions.

Discovery of Participation

The involvement of Colombian fighters was first uncovered the previous year, following an report which disclosed that over three hundred former soldiers had been hired to fight – an discovery that led to an unusual statement of regret from officials in Bogotá.

Colombian ex-soldiers have long been considered as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their vast combat experience resulting from a long-running domestic war, knowledge of Nato equipment, and high-level combat training.

Reported Actions

In the Sudanese theater, the Colombians have been accused of teaching child soldiers, taught fighters to pilot drones, and participated in direct battles. An individual involved previously stated that instructing minors was "horrific and irrational" but commented that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Named Entities

Among those sanctioned was a retired Colombian officer, a individual with dual citizenship and retired Colombian military officer operating from the UAE. The Treasury said he had a pivotal function in enlisting and transporting mercenaries to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was also sanctioned.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who the Treasury stated managed a business linked to handling funds and payroll for the recruitment operation. "In 2024 and 2025, US-based firms linked to Duque conducted several money transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the Treasury statement stated.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz was the other individual to be targeted, with the company she managed accused of money transfers connected to Duque and his companies.

"The US once more urges foreign parties to stop giving monetary and weaponry aid to the combatants," the agency stated.

Analyst Commentary

An expert, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, called the actions as a "highly important" milestone, stating that "identifying the recruiters is the correct approach".

It was also noted that, Bogotá ratified a law approving the global treaty against mercenarism, aiming to curb years of participation by its nationals in international fights and change national security policy.

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

"It’s an illicit economy and based out of the Emirates, which is relatively sanction-proof," he stated. The United Arab Emirates has been repeatedly implicated of providing arms to the militia, an accusation it has denied. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," he advised.