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The Washington has levied restrictions on a operation of several persons and entities alleged of hiring former Colombian soldiers to fight for and train a armed faction in Sudan that Washington accuses of genocidal acts.

Operation Structure

Revealing the sanctions on Tuesday, the American treasury stated the operation was mostly comprised of Colombian citizens and firms.

Hundreds of former Colombian military personnel have been recruited to go to Sudan to operate with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a faction accused of terrible atrocities encompassing ethnically targeted slaughter and large-scale abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The role of these mercenaries was first uncovered the previous year, after an inquiry which disclosed that more than 300 ex-military personnel had been contracted to engage in combat – an revelation that prompted an unusual statement of regret from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

Former Colombian military have widely regarded as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their vast combat experience acquired during a long-running domestic war, training on Western military gear, and high-level combat training.

Reported Actions

In the conflict, the contractors have reportedly trained child soldiers, taught fighters to pilot drones, and fought directly on the frontlines. One source previously stated that working with child soldiers was "awful and crazy" but added that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those sanctioned was a dual national, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and retired Colombian military officer operating from the UAE. The US authorities said he had a key part in hiring and sending mercenaries to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was also sanctioned.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who the Treasury stated managed a business implicated in managing finances and payments for the network. "In 2024 and 2025, American entities connected to Duque engaged in numerous wire transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the government release stated.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the fourth individual to be targeted, with the company she managed alleged to have financial transactions linked to Duque and his companies.

"The US once more urges external actors to halt the flow of monetary and weaponry aid to the combatants," the agency said in a statement.

Reaction

An expert, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, described the sanctions as a "very significant" development, noting that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the right way to go".

It was also noted that, the Colombian government ratified a law approving the global treaty against mercenarism, designed to limit its citizens' long history in foreign conflicts and transform its security approach.

Another expert, a scholar on the subject, called for greater wariness, stating that "restrictions are needed but not enough for dealing with the growing mercenary trade".

"It operates in the black market and centered in the UAE, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he commented. The United Arab Emirates has been frequently alleged of providing arms to the militia, allegations it disputes. "This trend will probably continue," McFate warned.