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The US government has levied restrictions on a group of four individuals and four companies charged of enlisting former Colombian soldiers to combat alongside and instruct a militia force in Sudan the United States claims of genocidal acts.

Operation Structure

Disclosing the restrictions on Tuesday, the American treasury stated the operation was primarily made up of Colombian nationals and companies.

Scores of ex-soldiers from Colombia have been recruited to go to the conflict in Sudan to fight alongside the Sudanese RSF militia, a force linked to terrible atrocities including ethnically targeted slaughter and widespread kidnappings.

Revelation of Role

The participation of ex-soldiers first came to light last year, after an investigation which disclosed that more than 300 former soldiers had been hired to fight – an revelation that prompted an rare mea culpa from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

Former Colombian military have widely regarded as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their considerable warzone knowledge gleaned from decades of civil war, knowledge of Nato equipment, and superior tactical education.

Reported Actions

In the Sudanese theater, the mercenaries have reportedly trained child soldiers, provided drone warfare training, and engaged in frontline combat. A mercenary remarked that working with child soldiers was "awful and crazy" but noted that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those targeted was a retired Colombian officer, a dual Colombian-Italian national and retired Colombian military officer located in the United Arab Emirates. The US authorities accused him a pivotal function in hiring and sending former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was penalized as well.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Duque Botero, a dual national who the Treasury stated ran a firm linked to handling funds and payroll for the recruitment operation. "In 2024 and 2025, American entities associated with Duque carried out numerous wire transfers, amounting to millions," the Treasury statement noted.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the final person to be sanctioned, with the company she managed accused of money transfers linked to Duque and his companies.

"The United States again calls on outside forces to halt the flow of financial and military support to the warring parties," the department announced.

Reaction

Elizabeth Dickinson, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, called the actions as a "highly important" step, stating that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the right way to go".

Furthermore, Colombia has enacted a statute ratifying the anti-mercenary convention, designed to limit its citizens' long history in foreign conflicts and transform domestic defense strategy.

Sean McFate, a scholar on the subject, advised additional measures, stating that "penalties are required yet incomplete for dealing with rampant mercenarism".

"It operates in the black market and operating from the Emirates, which is relatively sanction-proof," he commented. The United Arab Emirates has been frequently alleged of providing arms to the militia, an accusation it has denied. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," McFate warned.