U.S. Treasury Sanctions Colombian Recruitment Networks Funneling Mercenaries into Sudanese Civil War

The U.S. Treasury targets Colombian firms recruiting snipers and drone pilots for Sudan's RSF. Learn how these sanctions aim to curb the humanitarian crisis.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 18, 2026, 11:18 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Dallas Express

Treasury Targets Transnational Networks Destabilizing Sudan

In a coordinated effort to address the escalating humanitarian crisis in East Africa, the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has sanctioned a web of Colombian and Panamanian entities. These groups are accused of facilitating the deployment of foreign combatants to assist the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in their ongoing conflict against the Sudanese Armed Forces. The sanctions, issued under Executive Order 14098, target those who undermine Sudan’s democratic transition and contribute to a war that has claimed over 150,000 lives since April 2023.

Recruitment of Specialized Combatants via Intermediary Firms

The investigation revealed that retired Colombian military officers used a series of shell companies and human resources firms to recruit specialized personnel, including snipers and drone technicians. One primary entity, International Services Agency (A4SI), reportedly utilized a Panama-based intermediary to manage the complicated logistics of contracts and payments for these mercenaries. When initial firms faced scrutiny, the organizers established new Bogota-based entities, such as Fénix Human Resources, to continue their recruitment operations under the guise of legitimate business.

Mercenary Pipeline Extends from Bogota to El Fasher

The scale of the recruitment effort has significantly bolstered the RSF's technical capabilities on the battlefield, particularly during intense fighting in regions like El Fasher. Officials identified retired Colonel Jose Oscar Garcia Batte as a key figure who sent former soldiers to Sudan despite being fully aware of their destination and the nature of the conflict. Records suggest that these networks were not limited to Africa; some recruiters have also been implicated in placing fighters in other global hotspots, including the war in Ukraine, highlighting the transnational nature of private military contracting.