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The US government has levied restrictions on a network of four individuals and four companies alleged of hiring Colombian mercenaries to combat alongside and instruct a Sudanese paramilitary group the United States claims of acts of genocide.

Network Composition

Disclosing the measures on this week, the Treasury stated the network was largely composed of Colombian nationals and companies.

Hundreds of former Colombian military personnel have reportedly travelled to the Sudanese warzone to fight alongside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a faction implicated in horrific war crimes encompassing massacres based on ethnicity and widespread kidnappings.

Discovery of Participation

The involvement of Colombian fighters was first uncovered last year, following an report which revealed that over three hundred former soldiers had been recruited to fight – an revelation that led to an unprecedented apology from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

Colombian ex-soldiers have long been considered as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their vast combat experience acquired during decades of civil war, knowledge of Western military gear, and elite military instruction.

Activities in Sudan

In Sudan, the Colombians have reportedly trained minors, taught fighters to pilot drones, and fought directly on the frontlines. One source remarked that working with child soldiers was "awful and crazy" but added that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Targeted Persons

Among those targeted was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a individual with dual citizenship and retired Colombian military officer located in the United Arab Emirates. The US authorities accused him a central role in recruiting and deploying mercenaries to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was penalized as well.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Duque Botero, a dual national who authorities say managed a business linked to handling funds and payroll for the network. "In 2024 and 2025, American entities connected to Duque engaged in several money transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the Treasury statement noted.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz was the final person to be penalized, with the company she managed said to have conducted wire transfers associated with Duque and his operations.

"The United States again calls on foreign parties to stop giving monetary and weaponry aid to the warring parties," the department stated.

Expert Analysis

A senior analyst, with the International Crisis Group, described the actions as a "major" step, saying that "targeting the enablers is the right way to go".

She added that, Colombia ratified a statute ratifying the anti-mercenary convention, designed to limit decades of Colombian involvement in foreign conflicts and reshape national security policy.

A mercenary specialist, a scholar on the subject, urged more caution, noting that "restrictions are needed but not enough for addressing the growing mercenary trade".

"This is a shadow economy and centered in the Emirates, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he commented. The Emirati government has been repeatedly implicated of arming the RSF, an accusation it has denied. "This trend will probably continue," the expert cautioned.