United States Enforces Restrictions on Group Accused of Channeling Colombian Contractors to the Sudanese Conflict.

The US government has enforced penalties on a network of several persons and entities accused of enlisting former Colombian soldiers to combat alongside and instruct a Sudanese paramilitary group which the US alleges of genocidal acts.

Network Composition

Disclosing the measures on this week, the Treasury stated the operation was largely composed of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Hundreds of retired Colombian troops have reportedly travelled to the conflict in Sudan to operate with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a group accused of horrific war crimes such as ethnically targeted slaughter and mass abductions.

Revelation of Role

The role of these mercenaries initially emerged last year, following an inquiry which revealed that more than 300 former soldiers had been contracted to participate in the war – an event that led to an unprecedented apology from officials in Bogotá.

Colombian ex-soldiers have long been considered as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their extensive battlefield experience acquired during a long-running domestic war, training on advanced weaponry, and elite military instruction.

Role in the Conflict

In the conflict, the Colombians have reportedly trained underage fighters, taught fighters to pilot drones, and engaged in frontline combat. An individual involved 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 penalized was a dual national, a individual with dual citizenship and ex-soldier operating from the UAE. The government said he had a pivotal function in recruiting and deploying ex-military personnel to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was penalized as well.

Also on the restricted list was Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who officials alleged oversaw a company implicated in managing finances and payments for the scheme. "In 2024 and 2025, American entities linked to Duque engaged in numerous wire transfers, amounting to millions," the Treasury statement stated.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz was the final person to be penalized, with the company she managed alleged to have wire transfers connected to Duque and his companies.

"Washington reiterates its demand for foreign parties to halt the flow of funding and arms to the warring parties," the department stated.

Reaction

A senior analyst, from a conflict think tank, labeled the sanctions as a "major" development, saying that "identifying the recruiters is the right way to go".

She added that, Bogotá recently passed a statute endorsing the global treaty against mercenarism, designed to limit decades of Colombian involvement in international fights and reshape domestic defense strategy.

A mercenary specialist, a authority on private military contractors, advised additional measures, stating that "restrictions are needed but not enough for combating widespread use of contractors".

"This is a shadow economy and operating from Dubai, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he said. The UAE has been repeatedly implicated of arming the RSF, allegations it disputes. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," the expert cautioned.