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The US government has imposed sanctions on a group of four individuals and four companies charged of hiring Colombian mercenaries to fight for and train a Sudanese paramilitary group that Washington accuses of genocidal acts.

Group Makeup

Announcing the measures on this week, the Treasury stated the scheme was mostly comprised of Colombian nationals and companies.

Hundreds of retired Colombian troops have allegedly journeyed to the conflict in Sudan to fight alongside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a faction accused of severe violations including ethnically targeted slaughter and large-scale abductions.

Discovery of Participation

The role of these mercenaries first came to light in 2024, after an investigation which revealed that more than 300 retired troops had been hired to engage in combat – an revelation that resulted in an unusual statement of regret from the Colombian government.

Colombian ex-soldiers have widely regarded as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their vast combat experience gleaned from a long-running domestic war, training on Nato equipment, and superior tactical education.

Reported Actions

In the conflict, the mercenaries have been accused of teaching minors, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and participated in direct battles. One source was quoted as saying that working with child soldiers was "awful and crazy" but added that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those sanctioned was a dual national, a dual Colombian-Italian national and retired Colombian military officer operating from the Dubai. The US authorities accused him a pivotal function in recruiting and deploying former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was also sanctioned.

Also on the penalty list was Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who the Treasury stated oversaw a company implicated in processing money and salaries for the network. "In 2024 and 2025, American entities connected to Duque engaged in numerous wire transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the government release said.

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

"Washington reiterates its demand for foreign parties to cease providing funding and arms to the warring parties," the Treasury announced.

Reaction

An expert, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, described the actions as a "very significant" development, stating that "targeting the enablers is the correct approach".

It was also noted that, Colombia has enacted a piece of legislation endorsing the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, aiming to curb years of participation by its nationals in overseas wars and change domestic defense strategy.

Another expert, a authority on private military contractors, urged more caution, saying that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for combating the growing mercenary trade".

"It’s an illicit economy and centered in the UAE, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he said. The UAE has been repeatedly implicated of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, an accusation it has denied. "This trend will probably continue," the expert cautioned.