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The Washington has imposed sanctions on a operation of several persons and entities accused of recruiting Colombian mercenaries to combat alongside and instruct a armed faction in Sudan the United States claims of genocidal acts.

Group Makeup

Disclosing the sanctions on Tuesday, the Treasury stated the network was primarily made up of Colombian citizens and firms.

Numerous of former Colombian military personnel have allegedly journeyed to Sudan to fight alongside the Sudanese RSF militia, a force implicated in terrible atrocities encompassing massacres based on ethnicity and widespread kidnappings.

Revelation of Role

The role of these mercenaries initially emerged in 2024, prompted by an report which disclosed that over three hundred retired troops had been hired to fight – an event that led to an unusual statement of regret from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

Former Colombian military have long been considered as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their extensive battlefield experience acquired during a long-running domestic war, knowledge of Nato equipment, and superior tactical education.

Reported Actions

In the Sudanese theater, the mercenaries have reportedly trained child soldiers, taught fighters to pilot drones, and fought directly on the frontlines. One source was quoted as saying that training children was "terrible and insane" but added that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Named Entities

Among those penalized was a dual national, a individual with dual citizenship and retired Colombian military officer operating from the UAE. The Treasury accused him a central role in recruiting and deploying mercenaries to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was also sanctioned.

Also on the restricted list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who the Treasury stated oversaw a company linked to processing money and salaries for the recruitment operation. "In 2024 and 2025, American entities linked to Duque carried out several money transfers, worth millions," the government release stated.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the final person to be sanctioned, with the entity she oversaw alleged to have wire transfers linked to Duque and his operations.

"The US once more urges outside forces to stop giving monetary and weaponry aid to the combatants," the agency announced.

Reaction

A senior analyst, from a conflict think tank, labeled the measures as a "major" development, stating that "identifying the recruiters is the proper strategy".

Furthermore, Bogotá has enacted a law approving the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, seeking to reduce years of participation by its nationals in foreign conflicts and change domestic defense strategy.

A mercenary specialist, a authority on private military contractors, advised additional measures, saying that "penalties are required yet incomplete for combating widespread use of contractors".

"This is a shadow economy and centered in Dubai, which is relatively sanction-proof," he said. The UAE has been frequently alleged of providing arms to the militia, an accusation it has denied. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," he advised.