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The Washington has imposed sanctions on a operation of four people and four firms charged of hiring Colombian mercenaries to combat alongside and instruct a militia force in Sudan which the US alleges of acts of genocide.

Network Composition

Disclosing the sanctions on Tuesday, the US Treasury Department stated the operation was primarily made up of Colombian nationals and companies.

Numerous of former Colombian military personnel have allegedly journeyed to the conflict in Sudan to combat beside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a group accused of horrific war crimes including ethnically targeted slaughter and mass abductions.

Revelation of Role

The involvement of Colombian fighters initially emerged in 2024, after an inquiry which found that more than 300 retired troops had been recruited to fight – an discovery that led to an unprecedented apology from officials in Bogotá.

These South American veterans have historically been seen as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their considerable warzone knowledge gleaned from a long-running domestic war, training on advanced weaponry, and elite military instruction.

Reported Actions

In the Sudanese theater, the mercenaries have allegedly instructed minors, taught fighters to pilot drones, and participated in direct battles. One source remarked that working with child soldiers was "awful and crazy" but added that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Named Entities

Among those targeted was a dual national, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and retired Colombian military officer based in the UAE. The government alleged he played a key part in recruiting and deploying ex-military personnel to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was penalized as well.

Also on the sanctions list was Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who authorities say oversaw a company implicated in handling funds and payroll for the scheme. "Recently, US-based firms connected to Duque carried out numerous wire transfers, worth millions," the Treasury statement stated.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the other individual to be sanctioned, with the firm she operated alleged to have wire transfers associated with Duque and his companies.

"The United States again calls on outside forces to stop giving financial and military support to the combatants," the Treasury stated.

Reaction

Elizabeth Dickinson, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, called the sanctions as a "highly important" step, noting that "identifying the recruiters is the right way to go".

She added that, Colombia has enacted a law ratifying the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, aiming to curb decades of Colombian involvement in international fights and transform its security approach.

Sean McFate, an expert on mercenaries, urged more caution, noting that "restrictions are needed but not enough for addressing the growing mercenary trade".

"This is a shadow economy and centered in the UAE, which is difficult to penalize," he said. The UAE has been repeatedly implicated of providing arms to the militia, an accusation it has denied. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," the expert cautioned.