Date: April 18, 2026 l Reporter: Ebere Igboke
The United States has imposed sanctions on three individuals and two companies accused of recruiting and deploying Colombian mercenaries to fight in Sudan’s ongoing conflict, marking the latest escalation in international efforts to curb external involvement in the war.
According to the US Department of the Treasury, those sanctioned were allegedly involved in organizing and facilitating the movement of former Colombian military personnel to support the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), one of the main factions in Sudan’s prolonged war.
The conflict in Sudan, which erupted in April 2023 between the RSF and the Sudanese armed forces, has now entered its fourth year, with no clear resolution in sight. The war has triggered what humanitarian organizations describe as one of the world’s worst crises, displacing millions and leaving large parts of the country in devastation. US authorities stated that the sanctions are part of broader measures aimed at weakening the operational capacity of the RSF, a group that has faced widespread allegations of committing atrocities, including war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The RSF itself traces its origins to the Janjaweed militias, which were widely condemned for violent campaigns in Sudan’s Darfur region in the early 2000s. Analysts say the group’s continued involvement in the current war has contributed significantly to the scale and severity of the humanitarian disaster.
The latest sanctions highlight growing international concern over the role of foreign fighters in Sudan’s conflict, as well as the networks facilitating their recruitment. Officials warn that such involvement risks prolonging the war and further destabilizing the region.
The US government reiterated its commitment to holding accountable individuals and entities that contribute to violence in Sudan, signaling that additional measures could follow as investigations into external support for the conflict continue.