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The US government has levied restrictions on a operation of four individuals and four companies accused of recruiting former Colombian soldiers to support and educate a Sudanese paramilitary group that Washington accuses of genocidal acts.

Operation Structure

Disclosing the restrictions on Tuesday, the Treasury stated the operation was primarily made up of Colombian citizens and firms.

Scores of ex-soldiers from Colombia have been recruited to go to Sudan to combat beside the Sudanese RSF militia, a faction implicated in terrible atrocities including massacres based on ethnicity and mass abductions.

Revelation of Role

The involvement of Colombian fighters initially emerged in 2024, prompted by an inquiry which disclosed that hundreds of ex-military personnel had been hired to fight – an event that prompted an unusual statement of regret from the Colombian government.

Colombian ex-soldiers have long been considered as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their vast combat experience resulting from a long-running domestic war, training on Nato equipment, and elite military instruction.

Activities in Sudan

In the conflict, the Colombians have reportedly trained underage fighters, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and fought directly on the frontlines. A mercenary remarked that instructing minors was "horrific and irrational" but noted that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Targeted Persons

Among those sanctioned was a retired Colombian officer, a dual Colombian-Italian national and former army officer located in the Dubai. The US authorities alleged he played a pivotal function in enlisting and transporting mercenaries to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was similarly targeted.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who officials alleged oversaw a company linked to processing money and salaries for the network. "In 2024 and 2025, American entities associated with Duque conducted numerous wire transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the Treasury statement said.

Individual Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the fourth individual to be penalized, with the entity she oversaw alleged to have wire transfers linked to Duque and his companies.

"The United States again calls on external actors to stop giving monetary and weaponry aid to the warring parties," the Treasury announced.

Analyst Commentary

An expert, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, labeled the measures as a "very significant" step, stating that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the proper strategy".

It was also noted that, Bogotá has enacted a law endorsing the global treaty against mercenarism, designed to limit years of participation by its nationals in international fights and transform domestic defense strategy.

A mercenary specialist, a authority on private military contractors, called for greater wariness, noting that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for combating rampant mercenarism".

"It operates in the black market and operating from the Emirates, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he commented. The UAE has been widely accused of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, an accusation it has denied. "This trend will probably continue," the expert cautioned.