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The Washington has enforced penalties on a network of four people and four firms alleged of enlisting Colombian mercenaries to combat alongside and instruct a Sudanese paramilitary group that Washington accuses of committing genocide.

Group Makeup

Announcing the sanctions on Tuesday, the American treasury stated the network was mostly comprised of Colombian citizens and firms.

Scores of former Colombian military personnel have allegedly journeyed to Sudan to combat beside the RSF paramilitary group, a group linked to terrible atrocities such as massacres based on ethnicity and large-scale abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The involvement of Colombian fighters first came to light the previous year, prompted by an inquiry which revealed that more than 300 former soldiers had been recruited to fight – an discovery that prompted an unusual statement of regret from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

These South American veterans have widely regarded as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their vast combat experience gleaned from decades of civil war, knowledge of Nato equipment, and high-level combat training.

Activities in Sudan

In the Sudanese theater, the Colombians have reportedly trained underage fighters, taught fighters to pilot drones, and fought directly on the frontlines. One source remarked that instructing minors was "horrific and irrational" but noted that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Targeted Persons

Among those penalized was a retired Colombian officer, a dual Colombian-Italian national and ex-soldier located in the UAE. The US authorities alleged he played a central role in recruiting and deploying former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was penalized as well.

Also on the sanctions list was Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who the Treasury stated ran a firm implicated in managing finances and payments for the network. "In 2024 and 2025, US-based firms associated with Duque conducted multiple financial transactions, amounting to millions," the official announcement noted.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the final person to be sanctioned, with the firm she operated alleged to have money transfers linked to Duque and his businesses.

"The US once more urges external actors to cease providing funding and arms to the warring parties," the Treasury announced.

Analyst Commentary

An expert, with the International Crisis Group, labeled the actions as a "very significant" development, stating that "identifying the recruiters is the proper strategy".

Furthermore, Bogotá recently passed a statute endorsing the global treaty against mercenarism, designed to limit decades of Colombian involvement in international fights and change national security policy.

Another expert, a scholar on the subject, urged more caution, saying that "restrictions are needed but not enough for dealing with rampant mercenarism".

"It’s an illicit economy and based out of Dubai, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he commented. The Emirati government has been frequently alleged of providing arms to the militia, allegations it disputes. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," he advised.