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The United States has levied restrictions on a group of four individuals and four companies alleged of hiring Colombian mercenaries to support and educate a armed faction in Sudan that Washington accuses of genocidal acts.

Group Makeup

Announcing the restrictions on this week, the Treasury stated the operation was largely composed of Colombian citizens and firms.

Scores of ex-soldiers from Colombia have reportedly travelled to the conflict in Sudan to operate with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a faction linked to terrible atrocities including massacres based on ethnicity and large-scale abductions.

Discovery of Participation

The involvement of Colombian fighters initially emerged in 2024, following an inquiry which found that over three hundred former soldiers had been contracted to participate in the war – an revelation that resulted in an rare mea culpa 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 gleaned from a long-running domestic war, training on Western military gear, and high-level combat training.

Activities in Sudan

In the conflict, the Colombians have allegedly instructed underage fighters, provided drone warfare training, and engaged in frontline combat. One source previously stated that instructing minors was "terrible and insane" but commented that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those targeted was a dual national, a individual with dual citizenship and retired Colombian military officer located in the UAE. The Treasury alleged he played a pivotal function in hiring and sending ex-military personnel to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was similarly targeted.

Also on the penalty list was Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who officials alleged ran a firm linked to managing finances and payments for the network. "Recently, companies in the United States connected to Duque engaged in several money transfers, amounting to millions," the official announcement stated.

Individual Mónica Muñoz was the other individual to be targeted, with the entity she oversaw alleged to have financial transactions associated with Duque and his businesses.

"The US once more urges foreign parties to cease providing monetary and weaponry aid to the combatants," the Treasury said in a statement.

Analyst Commentary

An expert, with the International Crisis Group, labeled the sanctions as a "very significant" development, noting that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the right way to go".

Furthermore, Bogotá recently passed a statute approving the anti-mercenary convention, seeking to reduce decades of Colombian involvement in overseas wars and transform domestic defense strategy.

A mercenary specialist, an expert on mercenaries, urged more caution, saying that "penalties are required yet incomplete for combating rampant mercenarism".

"This is a shadow economy and operating from Dubai, which is relatively sanction-proof," he said. The United Arab Emirates has been frequently alleged of arming the RSF, allegations it disputes. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," the expert cautioned.