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The Washington has imposed sanctions on a group of four individuals and four companies accused of recruiting former Colombian soldiers to fight for and train a militia force in Sudan the United States claims of acts of genocide.

Network Composition

Disclosing the measures on this week, the American treasury stated the operation was mostly comprised of Colombian citizens and firms.

Numerous of retired Colombian troops have been recruited to go to the Sudanese warzone to fight alongside the RSF paramilitary group, a force linked to terrible atrocities encompassing targeted ethnic killings and widespread kidnappings.

Discovery of Participation

The involvement of Colombian fighters was first uncovered last year, following an inquiry which revealed that hundreds of former soldiers had been recruited to engage in combat – an discovery that resulted in an rare mea culpa from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

These South American veterans have widely regarded as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their considerable warzone knowledge resulting from years of internal conflict, knowledge of Western military gear, and elite military instruction.

Reported Actions

In Sudan, the Colombians have been accused of teaching child soldiers, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and fought directly on the frontlines. An individual involved remarked that instructing minors was "awful and crazy" but noted that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Named Entities

Among those sanctioned was a dual national, a dual Colombian-Italian national and retired Colombian military officer located in the Dubai. The US authorities accused him a key part in enlisting and transporting mercenaries to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was similarly targeted.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who officials alleged ran a firm accused of managing finances and payments for the network. "In 2024 and 2025, American entities connected to Duque conducted several money transfers, worth millions," the Treasury statement stated.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the final person to be targeted, with the firm she operated accused of financial transactions connected to Duque and his businesses.

"The US once more urges outside forces to cease providing funding and arms to the combatants," the Treasury announced.

Expert Analysis

A senior analyst, from a conflict think tank, described the actions as a "very significant" development, noting that "targeting the enablers is the right way to go".

It was also noted that, Colombia recently passed a law endorsing the global treaty against mercenarism, seeking to reduce decades of Colombian involvement in foreign conflicts and reshape national security policy.

Another expert, an expert on mercenaries, urged more caution, stating that "penalties are required yet incomplete for addressing the growing mercenary trade".

"It operates in the black market and operating from the Emirates, which is difficult to penalize," he commented. The United Arab Emirates has been widely accused of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, allegations it disputes. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," he advised.