The United States has imposed sanctions on a network accused of recruiting former Colombian soldiers to fight in Sudan’s ongoing civil war. Eight individuals and entities, primarily Colombian nationals, have allegedly been providing manpower and training for the Sudanese paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), according to the US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).
Hundreds of Colombian mercenaries are reported to have traveled to Sudan since 2024, serving roles from infantry to drone pilots. The trend reflects a broader pattern in which retired Colombian soldiers, often struggling financially, are lured abroad under false promises of low-risk work. Some have previously participated in conflicts in Ukraine and other foreign theaters.
Colombian authorities have acknowledged the phenomenon, warning that sophisticated human trafficking networks are exploiting veterans. “The lack of sustainable income for retired soldiers has created a pool of individuals vulnerable to recruitment for foreign conflicts,” explained Alfonso Manzur, a retired officer turned academic.
The RSF, which has clashed with Sudanese army forces since April 2023, has been accused of widespread atrocities. US officials report that the paramilitary has systematically targeted civilians, including children, and committed acts that have been classified as genocide by international observers. The group’s seizure of the city of el-Fasher following a prolonged siege in Darfur exemplifies the scale of violence and instability.
The sanctioned network includes four entities and four individuals, among them a dual Colombian-Italian former officer based in the United Arab Emirates—a country repeatedly implicated in arming the RSF. While the UAE denies these claims, Sudanese state media reported that a UAE plane carrying at least 40 Colombian fighters was shot down earlier this year, though the fatalities remain unconfirmed.
US sanctions freeze all assets of the designated individuals and entities, prohibiting US persons from engaging with them. The Treasury stated that the network has provided tactical expertise, training, and even recruited child soldiers for the RSF. Colombian fighters are said to have participated in multiple battles across Khartoum, Omdurman, Kordofan, and el-Fasher.
The humanitarian impact is catastrophic. Over 5,000 deaths have been reported in Darfur alone, while recent attacks in South Kordofan claimed at least 114 lives, including 63 children, according to the World Health Organization. Displacement has affected nearly 12 million people, with famine conditions emerging in several regions.
The RSF has also seized control of Sudan’s largest oil field, Heglig, presenting strategic gains amid ongoing instability. International pressure, including recent statements from US President Donald Trump and UN officials, calls for immediate ceasefires and humanitarian access, but the conflict continues to escalate.
The unfolding crisis underscores the dangers of mercenary recruitment, the vulnerability of former soldiers, and the devastating toll of Sudan’s prolonged civil war on civilians.
