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The US government has levied restrictions on a network of four individuals and four companies charged of recruiting Colombian mercenaries to combat alongside and instruct a armed faction in Sudan that Washington accuses of acts of genocide.

Group Makeup

Revealing the restrictions on this week, the Treasury stated the network was primarily made up of Colombian nationals and companies.

Hundreds of retired Colombian troops have allegedly journeyed to the conflict in Sudan to operate with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a group accused of severe violations including ethnically targeted slaughter and widespread kidnappings.

Revelation of Role

The role of these mercenaries first came to light in 2024, after an investigation which found that hundreds of retired troops had been contracted to participate in the war – an discovery that prompted an rare mea culpa from officials in Bogotá.

These South American veterans have widely regarded as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their extensive battlefield experience gleaned from decades of civil war, knowledge of Western military gear, and elite military instruction.

Activities in Sudan

In the Sudanese theater, the contractors have reportedly trained child soldiers, provided drone warfare training, and participated in direct battles. One source previously stated that training children was "terrible and insane" but commented that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Named Entities

Among those penalized was a dual national, a dual Colombian-Italian national and retired Colombian military officer based in the Dubai. The Treasury alleged he played a central role in enlisting and transporting mercenaries to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was also sanctioned.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who officials alleged managed a business linked to handling funds and payroll for the recruitment operation. "Recently, US-based firms associated with Duque conducted numerous wire transfers, amounting to millions," the official announcement stated.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz was the other individual to be penalized, with the company she managed alleged to have financial transactions linked to Duque and his operations.

"The United States again calls on external actors to stop giving funding and arms to the belligerents," the agency stated.

Analyst Commentary

Elizabeth Dickinson, with the International Crisis Group, described the actions as a "major" step, saying that "identifying the recruiters is the correct approach".

Furthermore, Colombia recently passed a piece of legislation ratifying the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, seeking to reduce its citizens' long history in overseas wars and reshape its security approach.

Sean McFate, a authority on private military contractors, called for greater wariness, noting that "restrictions are needed but not enough for dealing with the growing mercenary trade".

"It’s an illicit economy and based out of the UAE, which is difficult to penalize," he stated. The UAE has been repeatedly implicated of providing arms to the militia, an accusation it has denied. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," he advised.