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The US government has levied restrictions on a group of several persons and entities alleged of hiring former Colombian soldiers to fight for and train a armed faction in Sudan the United States claims of committing genocide.

Group Makeup

Disclosing the restrictions on this week, the American treasury stated the scheme was largely composed of Colombian nationals and companies.

Hundreds of retired Colombian troops have allegedly journeyed to the Sudanese warzone to combat beside the RSF paramilitary group, a faction linked to horrific war crimes such as massacres based on ethnicity and large-scale abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The involvement of Colombian fighters initially emerged last year, prompted by an inquiry which revealed that hundreds of ex-military personnel had been hired to fight – an discovery that led to an unusual statement of regret from officials in Bogotá.

Colombian ex-soldiers have historically been seen as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their vast combat experience acquired during a long-running domestic war, knowledge of Nato equipment, and superior tactical education.

Role in the Conflict

In the Sudanese theater, the mercenaries have been accused of teaching minors, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and fought directly on the frontlines. A mercenary previously stated that training children was "terrible and insane" but commented that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those penalized was a retired Colombian officer, a dual Colombian-Italian national and retired Colombian military officer located in the UAE. The Treasury said he had a pivotal function in enlisting and transporting mercenaries to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was also sanctioned.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who the Treasury stated managed a business accused of handling funds and payroll for the scheme. "In 2024 and 2025, companies in the United States connected to Duque conducted numerous wire transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the government release stated.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the fourth individual to be sanctioned, with the firm she operated accused of financial transactions linked to Duque and his operations.

"The United States again calls on outside forces to cease providing financial and military support to the warring parties," the agency said in a statement.

Reaction

An expert, from a conflict think tank, described the actions as a "highly important" milestone, saying that "targeting the enablers is the correct approach".

Furthermore, Colombia recently passed a piece of legislation endorsing the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, seeking to reduce decades of Colombian involvement in foreign conflicts and reshape national security policy.

Another expert, a scholar on the subject, urged more caution, saying that "penalties are required yet incomplete for addressing widespread use of contractors".

"This is a shadow economy and based out of the UAE, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he stated. The Emirati government has been repeatedly implicated of arming the RSF, an accusation it has denied. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," McFate warned.