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The Washington has imposed sanctions on a operation of several persons and entities charged of enlisting former Colombian soldiers to combat alongside and instruct a militia force in Sudan the United States claims of committing genocide.

Network Composition

Announcing the measures on Tuesday, the American treasury stated the operation was primarily made up of Colombian nationals and companies.

Hundreds of former Colombian military personnel have allegedly journeyed to Sudan to combat beside the RSF paramilitary group, a force implicated in horrific war crimes such as targeted ethnic killings and mass abductions.

Revelation of Role

The role of these mercenaries was first uncovered in 2024, prompted by an investigation which found that over three hundred retired troops had been recruited to fight – an discovery that prompted an unprecedented apology from the Colombian government.

These South American veterans have historically been seen as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their extensive battlefield experience acquired during years of internal conflict, training on Nato equipment, and elite military instruction.

Activities in Sudan

In Sudan, the Colombians have been accused of teaching underage fighters, provided drone warfare training, and fought directly on the frontlines. A mercenary was quoted as saying that training children was "horrific and irrational" but commented that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Named Entities

Among those targeted was a retired Colombian officer, a individual with dual citizenship and ex-soldier located in the Dubai. The Treasury said he had a key part in enlisting and transporting mercenaries to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was similarly targeted.

Also on the restricted list was Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who the Treasury stated oversaw a company implicated in handling funds and payroll for the recruitment operation. "In 2024 and 2025, US-based firms connected to Duque conducted several money transfers, amounting to millions," the official announcement stated.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz was the other individual to be sanctioned, with the entity she oversaw alleged to have money transfers associated with Duque and his businesses.

"The US once more urges outside forces to halt the flow of monetary and weaponry aid to the warring parties," the Treasury said in a statement.

Reaction

A senior analyst, from a conflict think tank, described the sanctions as a "highly important" step, stating that "targeting the enablers is the proper strategy".

She added that, Colombia ratified a law ratifying the anti-mercenary convention, seeking to reduce years of participation by its nationals in overseas wars and reshape national security policy.

A mercenary specialist, an expert on mercenaries, advised additional measures, noting that "restrictions are needed but not enough for addressing widespread use of contractors".

"It operates in the black market and based out of Dubai, which is relatively sanction-proof," he commented. The Emirati government has been repeatedly implicated of arming the RSF, claims it rejects. "This trend will probably continue," the expert cautioned.