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The US government has enforced penalties on a group of four individuals and four companies charged of enlisting former Colombian soldiers to support and educate a militia force in Sudan which the US alleges of genocidal acts.

Network Composition

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

Scores of ex-soldiers from Colombia have been recruited to go to Sudan to operate with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a force linked to terrible atrocities including ethnically targeted slaughter and widespread kidnappings.

Discovery of Participation

The involvement of Colombian fighters was first uncovered in 2024, prompted by an inquiry which revealed that over three hundred retired troops had been hired to fight – an revelation that prompted an unprecedented apology from the Colombian government.

Former Colombian military have historically been seen as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their considerable warzone knowledge resulting from decades of civil war, knowledge of Western military gear, and high-level combat training.

Role in the Conflict

In the Sudanese theater, the Colombians have reportedly trained underage fighters, provided drone warfare training, and participated in direct battles. One source was quoted as saying that training children was "awful and crazy" but added that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Targeted Persons

Among those targeted was a retired Colombian officer, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and retired Colombian military officer operating from the Dubai. The government alleged he played a key part in recruiting and deploying former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was penalized as well.

Also on the restricted list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual national who officials alleged oversaw a company linked to handling funds and payroll for the scheme. "In 2024 and 2025, American entities associated with Duque carried out several money transfers, amounting to millions," the official announcement said.

Individual Mónica Muñoz was the final person to be penalized, with the entity she oversaw alleged to have wire transfers associated with Duque and his businesses.

"The United States again calls on foreign parties to stop giving funding and arms to the combatants," the department said in a statement.

Reaction

An expert, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, called the actions as a "major" development, noting that "identifying the recruiters is the right way to go".

She added that, Colombia recently passed a law endorsing the global treaty against mercenarism, aiming to curb its citizens' long history in overseas wars and transform domestic defense strategy.

Sean McFate, a authority on private military contractors, advised additional measures, noting that "penalties are required yet incomplete for dealing with widespread use of contractors".

"It’s an illicit economy and centered in Dubai, which is difficult to penalize," he commented. The Emirati government has been widely accused of arming the RSF, an accusation it has denied. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," he advised.