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The US government has imposed sanctions on a network of four people and four firms charged of enlisting former Colombian soldiers to combat alongside and instruct a armed faction in Sudan the United States claims of genocidal acts.

Operation Structure

Disclosing the measures on this week, the Treasury stated the scheme was mostly comprised of Colombian nationals and companies.

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

Revelation of Role

The involvement of Colombian fighters initially emerged in 2024, after an investigation which found that more than 300 retired troops had been hired to fight – an revelation that resulted in an unprecedented apology from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

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

Reported Actions

In the Sudanese theater, the contractors have allegedly instructed underage fighters, taught fighters to pilot drones, and fought directly on the frontlines. A mercenary remarked that training children was "awful and crazy" but added that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Named Entities

Among those targeted was a dual national, a dual Colombian-Italian national and former army officer operating from the Dubai. The government alleged he played a key part in recruiting and deploying ex-military personnel to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was penalized as well.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who authorities say ran a firm accused of managing finances and payments for the scheme. "Recently, companies in the United States associated with Duque conducted numerous wire transfers, amounting to millions," the Treasury statement noted.

Individual Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the other individual to be sanctioned, with the firm she operated alleged to have financial transactions connected to Duque and his operations.

"The US once more urges outside forces to cease providing monetary and weaponry aid to the belligerents," the department announced.

Analyst Commentary

An expert, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, labeled the measures as a "major" milestone, stating that "targeting the enablers is the right way to go".

It was also noted that, the Colombian government recently passed a statute approving the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, aiming to curb its citizens' long history in international fights and reshape its security approach.

Sean McFate, an expert on mercenaries, called for greater wariness, saying that "penalties are required yet incomplete for combating widespread use of contractors".

"It operates in the black market and operating from the UAE, which is difficult to penalize," he said. The Emirati government has been frequently alleged of arming the RSF, allegations it disputes. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," the expert cautioned.