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The Washington has levied restrictions on a group of four individuals and four companies charged of enlisting former Colombian soldiers to support and educate a Sudanese paramilitary group the United States claims of committing genocide.

Network Composition

Disclosing the measures on Tuesday, the Treasury stated the network was largely composed of Colombian citizens and firms.

Scores of ex-soldiers from Colombia have reportedly travelled to the conflict in Sudan to fight alongside the Sudanese RSF militia, a faction implicated in severe violations encompassing targeted ethnic killings and large-scale abductions.

Discovery of Participation

The role of these mercenaries initially emerged the previous year, prompted by an report which disclosed that more than 300 former soldiers had been recruited to fight – an revelation that led to an unprecedented apology from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

These South American veterans have historically been seen as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their vast combat experience resulting from decades of civil war, knowledge of advanced weaponry, and elite military instruction.

Role in the Conflict

In Sudan, the Colombians have reportedly trained underage fighters, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and engaged in frontline combat. One source previously stated that instructing minors was "horrific and irrational" but noted that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Named Entities

Among those penalized was a dual national, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and ex-soldier operating from the United Arab Emirates. The Treasury said he had a key part in recruiting and deploying ex-military personnel to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was similarly targeted.

Also on the sanctions list was Duque Botero, a dual national who authorities say ran a firm linked to managing finances and payments for the network. "In 2024 and 2025, companies in the United States associated with Duque carried out several money transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the government release noted.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz was the fourth individual to be sanctioned, with the company she managed alleged to have wire transfers associated with Duque and his businesses.

"The US once more urges external actors to stop giving financial and military support to the belligerents," the Treasury stated.

Analyst Commentary

Elizabeth Dickinson, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, labeled the sanctions as a "very significant" step, saying that "identifying the recruiters is the correct approach".

Furthermore, Colombia has enacted a law approving the anti-mercenary convention, seeking to reduce decades of Colombian involvement in international fights and transform its security approach.

Sean McFate, an expert on mercenaries, advised additional measures, stating that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for addressing widespread use of contractors".

"It’s an illicit economy and centered in Dubai, which is difficult to penalize," he stated. The UAE has been repeatedly implicated of providing arms to the militia, claims it rejects. "This trend will probably continue," the expert cautioned.