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The United States has enforced penalties on a network of four individuals and four companies alleged of enlisting former Colombian soldiers to support and educate a armed faction in Sudan which the US alleges of committing genocide.

Network Composition

Revealing the measures on Tuesday, the US Treasury Department stated the operation was largely composed of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Hundreds of retired Colombian troops have been recruited to go to the Sudanese warzone to operate with the Sudanese RSF militia, a force implicated in terrible atrocities encompassing targeted ethnic killings and large-scale abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The participation of ex-soldiers first came to light the previous year, after an investigation which disclosed that hundreds of ex-military personnel had been recruited to participate in the war – an revelation that resulted in an unprecedented apology from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

Colombian ex-soldiers have historically been seen as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their considerable warzone knowledge acquired during a long-running domestic war, knowledge of advanced weaponry, and elite military instruction.

Reported Actions

In Sudan, the mercenaries have allegedly instructed underage fighters, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and fought directly on the frontlines. A mercenary remarked that training children was "awful and crazy" but noted that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Targeted Persons

Among those targeted was a retired Colombian officer, a dual Colombian-Italian national and retired Colombian military officer located in the Dubai. The Treasury accused him a pivotal function in recruiting and deploying mercenaries to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was similarly targeted.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who authorities say oversaw a company accused of managing finances and payments for the scheme. "In 2024 and 2025, companies in the United States linked to Duque carried out multiple financial transactions, amounting to millions," the Treasury statement said.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the other individual to be targeted, with the firm she operated accused of wire transfers connected to Duque and his operations.

"Washington reiterates its demand for outside forces to stop giving funding and arms to the combatants," the department said in a statement.

Expert Analysis

A senior analyst, with the International Crisis Group, described the actions as a "highly important" step, noting that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the correct approach".

It was also noted that, Colombia recently passed a piece of legislation ratifying the anti-mercenary convention, seeking to reduce years of participation by its nationals in overseas wars and reshape its security approach.

Sean McFate, an expert on mercenaries, called for greater wariness, noting that "restrictions are needed but not enough for combating rampant mercenarism".

"This is a shadow economy and based out of Dubai, which is relatively sanction-proof," he stated. The UAE has been widely accused of providing arms to the militia, claims it rejects. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," he advised.