United States Enforces Sanctions on Group Accused of Funneling Colombian Fighters to Sudan.

The United States has imposed sanctions on a operation of several persons and entities accused of hiring South American contractors to support and educate a Sudanese paramilitary group that Washington accuses of genocidal acts.

Network Composition

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

Scores of former Colombian military personnel have allegedly journeyed to the Sudanese warzone to fight alongside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a faction linked to horrific war crimes such as massacres based on ethnicity and large-scale abductions.

Revelation of Role

The participation of ex-soldiers was first uncovered in 2024, following an investigation which found that hundreds of former soldiers had been recruited to fight – an event that prompted an unprecedented apology from officials in Bogotá.

These South American veterans have widely regarded as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their considerable warzone knowledge resulting from years of internal conflict, knowledge of Nato equipment, and elite military instruction.

Role in the Conflict

In the Sudanese theater, the Colombians have been accused of teaching 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 "horrific and irrational" but commented that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Targeted Persons

Among those targeted was a dual national, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and ex-soldier operating from the United Arab Emirates. The government alleged he played a key part in hiring and sending mercenaries to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was similarly targeted.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who the Treasury stated managed a business accused of handling funds and payroll for the scheme. "In 2024 and 2025, American entities connected to Duque engaged in multiple financial transactions, worth millions," the official announcement said.

Individual Mónica Muñoz was the fourth individual to be targeted, with the entity she oversaw said to have conducted money transfers linked to Duque and his operations.

"Washington reiterates its demand for foreign parties to stop giving funding and arms to the combatants," the agency announced.

Expert Analysis

A senior analyst, with the International Crisis Group, called the measures as a "major" development, stating that "targeting the enablers is the proper strategy".

Furthermore, Colombia has enacted a piece of legislation approving the anti-mercenary convention, aiming to curb its citizens' long history in international fights and transform domestic defense strategy.

Another expert, a scholar on the subject, urged more caution, saying that "penalties are required yet incomplete for combating rampant mercenarism".

"This is a shadow economy and based out of Dubai, which is difficult to penalize," he stated. The United Arab Emirates has been repeatedly implicated of providing arms to the militia, an accusation it has denied. "This trend will probably continue," the expert cautioned.