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The Washington has imposed sanctions on a operation of four individuals and four companies accused of enlisting Colombian mercenaries to combat alongside and instruct a Sudanese paramilitary group the United States claims of genocidal acts.

Operation Structure

Revealing the sanctions on Tuesday, the Treasury stated the scheme was largely composed of Colombian citizens and firms.

Numerous of retired Colombian troops have allegedly journeyed to the Sudanese warzone to operate with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a group linked to severe violations such as massacres based on ethnicity and large-scale abductions.

Discovery of Participation

The participation of ex-soldiers first came to light in 2024, after an inquiry which found that more than 300 retired troops had been recruited to participate in the war – an discovery that led to an unusual statement of regret from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

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 decades of civil war, knowledge of advanced weaponry, and high-level combat training.

Activities in Sudan

In the conflict, the Colombians have been accused of teaching underage fighters, taught fighters to pilot drones, and engaged in frontline combat. One source remarked that training children was "awful and crazy" but added that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those penalized was a dual national, a individual with dual citizenship and former army officer located in the UAE. The US authorities alleged he played a pivotal function in enlisting and transporting former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was similarly targeted.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who officials alleged oversaw a company linked to processing money and salaries for the recruitment operation. "In 2024 and 2025, companies in the United States connected to Duque engaged in numerous wire transfers, worth millions," the Treasury statement noted.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the other individual to be targeted, with the company she managed alleged to have wire transfers connected to Duque and his businesses.

"The US once more urges external actors to stop giving monetary and weaponry aid to the warring parties," the department said in a statement.

Expert Analysis

A senior analyst, with the International Crisis Group, described the actions as a "major" milestone, saying that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the proper strategy".

She added that, Bogotá recently passed a statute endorsing the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, designed to limit its citizens' long history in international fights and change domestic defense strategy.

Another expert, a authority on private military contractors, called for greater wariness, saying that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for addressing rampant mercenarism".

"It’s an illicit economy and based out of Dubai, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he stated. The Emirati government has been frequently alleged of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, allegations it disputes. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," McFate warned.