US Treasury Sanctions Firms Over Colombian Mercenary Recruitment for RSF in Sudan

The United States Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) imposed sanctions on three individuals and two firms accused of recruiting and deploying Colombian mercenaries to fight alongside the Rapid Support Forces in Sudan's civil war. The sanctions target the recruitment network supplying what military analysts call the 'Desert Wolves' — former Colombian soldiers primarily tasked with operating RSF UAV (drone) systems, advanced artillery, and managing logistics at RSF-held airfields. US intelligence estimates over 850 foreign nationals are embedded with the RSF, with the Colombian contingent playing an outsized role in drone operations that have struck civilian infrastructure deep inside SAF-controlled territory including White Nile State. The sanctions came three days after the conflict's three-year anniversary amid heightened international pressure on the RSF's foreign support networks. Middle East Eye reporting noted the sanctions did not address UAE's documented role in facilitating RSF financing — a gap that drew criticism from Sudan advocacy organizations. The action marks the first time the US has directly targeted the Colombian mercenary recruitment infrastructure, and is expected to disrupt RSF access to specialized drone operators at a time when UAV capabilities have become central to the conflict's military balance.