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The Washington has imposed sanctions on a group of several persons and entities charged of hiring former Colombian soldiers to fight for and train a militia force in Sudan which the US alleges of acts of genocide.

Operation Structure

Revealing the restrictions on this week, the Treasury stated the scheme was largely composed of Colombian nationals and companies.

Scores of former Colombian military personnel have reportedly travelled to Sudan to combat beside the RSF paramilitary group, a force linked to terrible atrocities encompassing ethnically targeted slaughter and mass abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The participation of ex-soldiers first came to light the previous year, prompted by an investigation which revealed that more than 300 retired troops had been contracted to participate in the war – an discovery that prompted an rare mea culpa from the Colombian government.

Former Colombian military have widely regarded as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their considerable warzone knowledge acquired during a long-running domestic war, familiarity with Nato equipment, and superior tactical education.

Activities in Sudan

In Sudan, the mercenaries have allegedly instructed child soldiers, provided drone warfare training, and engaged in frontline combat. A mercenary was quoted as saying that working with child soldiers was "terrible and insane" but commented that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Targeted Persons

Among those sanctioned was a dual national, a individual with dual citizenship and retired Colombian military officer operating from the Dubai. The government alleged he played a key part in enlisting and transporting mercenaries to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was similarly targeted.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual national who authorities say managed a business accused of handling funds and payroll for the recruitment operation. "In 2024 and 2025, companies in the United States associated with Duque carried out several money transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the official announcement noted.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the other individual to be sanctioned, with the company she managed said to have conducted financial transactions linked to Duque and his businesses.

"The United States again calls on outside forces to cease providing monetary and weaponry aid to the combatants," the department stated.

Analyst Commentary

Elizabeth Dickinson, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, called the actions as a "highly important" development, stating that "targeting the enablers is the correct approach".

Furthermore, Colombia ratified a law ratifying the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, seeking to reduce years of participation by its nationals in international fights and transform domestic defense strategy.

A mercenary specialist, an expert on mercenaries, called for greater wariness, noting that "restrictions are needed but not enough for combating rampant mercenarism".

"It operates in the black market and based out of Dubai, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he commented. The UAE has been frequently alleged of providing arms to the militia, claims it rejects. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," the expert cautioned.