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The Washington has imposed sanctions on a network of several persons and entities charged of hiring Colombian mercenaries to combat alongside and instruct a armed faction in Sudan that Washington accuses of genocidal acts.

Operation Structure

Revealing the restrictions on Tuesday, the American treasury stated the operation was largely composed of Colombian nationals and companies.

Numerous of former Colombian military personnel have been recruited to go to the Sudanese warzone to operate with the Sudanese RSF militia, a group implicated in horrific war crimes such as ethnically targeted slaughter and large-scale abductions.

Discovery of Participation

The involvement of Colombian fighters was first uncovered the previous year, following an investigation which found that more than 300 retired troops had been hired to participate in the war – an revelation that led to an unprecedented apology from the Colombian government.

Colombian ex-soldiers have long been considered as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their vast combat experience resulting from years of internal conflict, knowledge of Nato equipment, and elite military instruction.

Role in the Conflict

In the conflict, the mercenaries have been accused of teaching child soldiers, taught fighters to pilot drones, and engaged in frontline combat. A mercenary remarked that instructing minors was "awful and crazy" but noted that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Targeted Persons

Among those penalized was a dual national, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and former army officer located in the United Arab Emirates. The US authorities alleged he played a central role in recruiting and deploying ex-military personnel to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was penalized as well.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who the Treasury stated ran a firm linked to processing money and salaries for the recruitment operation. "In 2024 and 2025, American entities linked to Duque conducted numerous wire transfers, amounting to millions," the government release said.

Individual Mónica Muñoz was the other individual to be penalized, with the entity she oversaw alleged to have money transfers linked to Duque and his operations.

"The US once more urges outside forces to cease providing funding and arms to the belligerents," the Treasury said in a statement.

Reaction

An expert, from a conflict think tank, described the sanctions as a "very significant" milestone, saying that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the correct approach".

It was also noted that, the Colombian government ratified a law endorsing the global treaty against mercenarism, seeking to reduce its citizens' long history in foreign conflicts and transform domestic defense strategy.

Sean McFate, a authority on private military contractors, advised additional measures, stating that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for dealing with widespread use of contractors".

"This is a shadow economy and centered in the Emirates, which is relatively sanction-proof," he stated. The United Arab Emirates has been repeatedly implicated of arming the RSF, allegations it disputes. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," he advised.