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The US government has enforced penalties on a operation of four people and four firms accused of enlisting former Colombian soldiers to combat alongside and instruct a militia force in Sudan which the US alleges of acts of genocide.

Group Makeup

Disclosing the restrictions on Tuesday, the US Treasury Department stated the scheme was primarily made up of Colombian nationals and companies.

Scores of retired Colombian troops have reportedly travelled to Sudan to fight alongside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a group implicated in severe violations encompassing massacres based on ethnicity and large-scale abductions.

Discovery of Participation

The participation of ex-soldiers first came to light in 2024, after an report which disclosed that more than 300 ex-military personnel had been hired to engage in combat – an revelation that led to an unusual statement of regret from officials in Bogotá.

These South American veterans have historically been seen as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their vast combat experience gleaned from years of internal conflict, knowledge of Western military gear, and high-level combat training.

Reported Actions

In the Sudanese theater, the mercenaries have been accused of teaching child soldiers, provided drone warfare training, and fought directly on the frontlines. One source remarked that working with child soldiers was "terrible and insane" but commented that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Named Entities

Among those targeted was a dual national, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and former army officer operating from the United Arab Emirates. The government said he had a pivotal function in recruiting and deploying mercenaries to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was also sanctioned.

Also on the restricted list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who authorities say managed a business linked to handling funds and payroll for the network. "Over the past two years, American entities connected to Duque engaged in several money transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the government release noted.

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

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

Expert Analysis

A senior analyst, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, described the sanctions as a "very significant" development, noting that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the right way to go".

It was also noted that, Bogotá recently passed a law endorsing the anti-mercenary convention, aiming to curb decades of Colombian involvement in international fights and reshape domestic defense strategy.

Sean McFate, an expert on mercenaries, advised additional measures, stating that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for combating the growing mercenary trade".

"It operates in the black market and operating from the Emirates, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he stated. The United Arab Emirates has been frequently alleged of arming the RSF, an accusation it has denied. "This trend will probably continue," the expert cautioned.