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The United States has levied restrictions on a network of several persons and entities charged of recruiting Colombian mercenaries to support and educate a Sudanese paramilitary group the United States claims of acts of genocide.

Operation Structure

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

Numerous of former Colombian military personnel have been recruited to go to Sudan to operate with the Sudanese RSF militia, a force linked to horrific war crimes encompassing ethnically targeted slaughter and widespread kidnappings.

Emergence of Involvement

The involvement of Colombian fighters initially emerged the previous year, following an investigation which revealed that more than 300 former soldiers had been hired to participate in the war – an revelation that led to an rare mea culpa from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

These South American veterans have long been considered as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their vast combat experience resulting from decades of civil war, familiarity with Nato equipment, and elite military instruction.

Activities in Sudan

In Sudan, the mercenaries have allegedly instructed minors, provided drone warfare training, and participated in direct battles. One source was quoted as saying that working with child soldiers was "horrific and irrational" but added that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Targeted Persons

Among those sanctioned was a retired Colombian officer, a dual Colombian-Italian national and ex-soldier operating from the UAE. The US authorities alleged he played a key part in hiring and sending mercenaries to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was also sanctioned.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Duque Botero, a dual national who officials alleged ran a firm linked to processing money and salaries for the network. "In 2024 and 2025, American entities linked to Duque engaged in numerous wire transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the Treasury statement stated.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the other individual to be sanctioned, with the firm she operated alleged to have wire transfers associated with Duque and his operations.

"Washington reiterates its demand for foreign parties to cease providing monetary and weaponry aid to the belligerents," the Treasury stated.

Analyst Commentary

An expert, with the International Crisis Group, described the actions as a "major" development, saying that "identifying the recruiters is the proper strategy".

Furthermore, Colombia has enacted a statute endorsing the anti-mercenary convention, aiming to curb its citizens' long history in international fights and reshape national security policy.

A mercenary specialist, a scholar on the subject, urged more caution, noting that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for combating the growing mercenary trade".

"This is a shadow economy and operating from the UAE, which is relatively sanction-proof," he said. The UAE has been repeatedly implicated of providing arms to the militia, allegations it disputes. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," he advised.