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The United States has levied restrictions on a operation of four people and four firms alleged of recruiting former Colombian soldiers to fight for and train a militia force in Sudan that Washington accuses of committing genocide.

Group Makeup

Disclosing the sanctions on Tuesday, the American treasury stated the network was primarily made up of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Hundreds of former Colombian military personnel have reportedly travelled to the conflict in Sudan to operate with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a faction linked to terrible atrocities such as targeted ethnic killings and widespread kidnappings.

Revelation of Role

The participation of ex-soldiers initially emerged the previous year, prompted by an inquiry which revealed that hundreds of former soldiers had been recruited to engage in combat – an event that resulted in an unprecedented apology from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

Colombian ex-soldiers have long been considered as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their extensive battlefield experience resulting from years of internal conflict, familiarity with advanced weaponry, and elite military instruction.

Reported Actions

In Sudan, the contractors have reportedly trained underage fighters, provided drone warfare training, and fought directly on the frontlines. One source remarked that training children was "terrible and insane" but noted that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Targeted Persons

Among those targeted was a dual national, a dual Colombian-Italian national and retired Colombian military officer located in the UAE. The Treasury said he had a key part in hiring and sending ex-military personnel to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was penalized as well.

Also on the penalty list was Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who the Treasury stated oversaw a company implicated in managing finances and payments for the network. "In 2024 and 2025, companies in the United States linked to Duque engaged in several money transfers, amounting to millions," the Treasury statement stated.

Individual Mónica Muñoz was the other individual to be penalized, with the firm she operated accused of financial transactions linked to Duque and his businesses.

"The United States again calls on outside forces to cease providing funding and arms to the belligerents," the agency said in a statement.

Reaction

Elizabeth Dickinson, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, labeled the sanctions as a "major" development, noting that "identifying the recruiters is the right way to go".

She added that, Bogotá has enacted a statute endorsing the global treaty against mercenarism, designed to limit years of participation by its nationals in overseas wars and change domestic defense strategy.

Sean McFate, a scholar on the subject, advised additional measures, stating that "penalties are required yet incomplete for dealing with the growing mercenary trade".

"This is a shadow economy and operating from Dubai, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he said. The United Arab Emirates has been frequently alleged of providing arms to the militia, claims it rejects. "This trend will probably continue," the expert cautioned.