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The Washington has enforced penalties on a group of several persons and entities charged of recruiting former Colombian soldiers to support and educate a Sudanese paramilitary group the United States claims of committing genocide.

Network Composition

Revealing the measures on Tuesday, the American treasury stated the operation was mostly comprised of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Hundreds of retired Colombian troops have allegedly journeyed to the conflict in Sudan to fight alongside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a group accused of terrible atrocities encompassing ethnically targeted slaughter and large-scale abductions.

Discovery of Participation

The role of these mercenaries first came to light the previous year, after an report which found that more than 300 ex-military personnel had been contracted to participate in the war – an revelation that resulted in an unusual statement of regret from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

Former Colombian military have widely regarded as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their vast combat experience resulting from years of internal conflict, training on advanced weaponry, and high-level combat training.

Reported Actions

In the Sudanese theater, the Colombians have been accused of teaching minors, taught fighters to pilot drones, and participated in direct battles. One source was quoted as saying that working with child soldiers was "awful and crazy" but commented that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Targeted Persons

Among those sanctioned was a retired Colombian officer, a dual Colombian-Italian national and retired Colombian military officer based 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 Andrés Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who authorities say oversaw a company linked to processing money and salaries for the scheme. "In 2024 and 2025, US-based firms connected to Duque conducted multiple financial transactions, worth millions," the government release noted.

Individual Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the fourth individual to be penalized, with the company she managed alleged to have money transfers connected to Duque and his operations.

"The US once more urges outside forces to halt the flow of financial and military support to the combatants," the agency stated.

Reaction

An expert, from a conflict think tank, labeled the actions as a "very significant" development, saying that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the right way to go".

It was also noted that, Bogotá has enacted a law ratifying the global treaty against mercenarism, aiming to curb its citizens' long history in overseas wars and reshape its security approach.

A mercenary specialist, an expert on mercenaries, urged more caution, saying that "restrictions are needed but not enough for dealing with widespread use of contractors".

"This is a shadow economy and centered in the Emirates, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he stated. The United Arab Emirates has been frequently alleged of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, claims it rejects. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," the expert cautioned.