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The Washington has enforced penalties on a network of four individuals and four companies accused of recruiting Colombian mercenaries to combat alongside and instruct a militia force in Sudan which the US alleges of genocidal acts.

Network Composition

Disclosing the measures on this week, the American treasury stated the scheme was mostly comprised of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Hundreds of retired Colombian troops have reportedly travelled to Sudan to combat beside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a group linked to horrific war crimes encompassing targeted ethnic killings and large-scale abductions.

Discovery of Participation

The involvement of Colombian fighters initially emerged the previous year, after an report which found that hundreds of retired troops had been recruited to participate in the war – an event that led to an unprecedented apology from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

Former Colombian military have historically been seen as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their extensive battlefield experience gleaned from a long-running domestic war, training on advanced weaponry, and elite military instruction.

Reported Actions

In the conflict, the contractors have allegedly instructed child soldiers, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and fought directly on the frontlines. One source previously stated that instructing minors was "terrible and insane" but added 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 United Arab Emirates. The US authorities alleged he played a central role in recruiting and deploying former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was also sanctioned.

Also on the penalty list was Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who officials alleged managed a business implicated in processing money and salaries for the network. "In 2024 and 2025, American entities associated with Duque conducted numerous wire transfers, amounting to millions," the official announcement said.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz was the final person to be penalized, with the firm she operated said to have conducted financial transactions connected to Duque and his companies.

"The United States again calls on external actors to cease providing monetary and weaponry aid to the combatants," the department stated.

Analyst Commentary

A senior analyst, with the International Crisis Group, labeled the measures as a "major" milestone, saying that "targeting the enablers is the correct approach".

It was also noted that, Colombia recently passed a law ratifying the anti-mercenary convention, designed to limit years of participation by its nationals in foreign conflicts and transform its security approach.

Another expert, a authority on private military contractors, advised additional measures, noting that "restrictions are needed but not enough for addressing widespread use of contractors".

"It operates in the black market and centered in Dubai, which is relatively sanction-proof," he stated. The UAE has been widely accused of providing arms to the militia, an accusation it has denied. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," he advised.