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The Washington has imposed sanctions on a operation of four people and four firms charged of enlisting former Colombian soldiers to support and educate a Sudanese paramilitary group which the US alleges of genocidal acts.

Group Makeup

Announcing the sanctions on this week, the Treasury stated the network was primarily made up of Colombian nationals and companies.

Numerous of ex-soldiers from Colombia have been recruited to go to Sudan to fight alongside the Sudanese RSF militia, a group linked to severe violations encompassing massacres based on ethnicity and mass abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The role of these mercenaries first came to light last year, after an investigation which found that over three hundred ex-military personnel had been hired to fight – an event that resulted in an unusual statement of regret from the Colombian government.

These South American veterans have widely regarded as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their extensive battlefield experience gleaned from a long-running domestic war, training on Western military gear, and high-level combat training.

Reported Actions

In the Sudanese theater, the Colombians have reportedly trained minors, provided drone warfare training, and fought directly on the frontlines. A mercenary previously stated that instructing minors was "terrible and insane" but added that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Targeted Persons

Among those sanctioned was a retired Colombian officer, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and former army officer located in the Dubai. The government accused him a pivotal function in recruiting and deploying ex-military personnel to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was penalized as well.

Also on the restricted list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who authorities say managed a business linked to processing money and salaries for the network. "In 2024 and 2025, American entities connected to Duque carried out numerous wire transfers, worth millions," the government release said.

Individual Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the final person to be penalized, with the entity she oversaw accused of money transfers linked to Duque and his businesses.

"The United States again calls on foreign parties to stop giving financial and military support to the belligerents," the agency said in a statement.

Reaction

A senior analyst, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, called the actions as a "major" step, stating that "targeting the enablers is the correct approach".

She added that, Colombia ratified a piece of legislation approving the global treaty against mercenarism, seeking to reduce its citizens' long history in international fights and change domestic defense strategy.

Another expert, a scholar on the subject, advised additional measures, saying that "penalties are required yet incomplete for addressing the growing mercenary trade".

"It’s an illicit economy and operating from the Emirates, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he stated. The United Arab Emirates has been widely accused of providing arms to the militia, an accusation it has denied. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," he advised.