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The Washington has levied restrictions on a group of four people and four firms accused of hiring Colombian mercenaries to combat alongside and instruct a militia force in Sudan that Washington accuses of committing genocide.

Group Makeup

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

Numerous of ex-soldiers from Colombia have allegedly journeyed to the Sudanese warzone to operate with the RSF paramilitary group, a faction linked to severe violations encompassing massacres based on ethnicity and mass abductions.

Revelation of Role

The participation of ex-soldiers initially emerged the previous year, prompted by an investigation which disclosed that hundreds of ex-military personnel had been contracted to engage in combat – an discovery that resulted in an unprecedented apology from officials in Bogotá.

These South American veterans have historically been seen as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their considerable warzone knowledge gleaned from decades of civil war, training on advanced weaponry, and superior tactical education.

Activities in Sudan

In the Sudanese theater, the contractors have been accused of teaching underage fighters, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and fought directly on the frontlines. One source previously stated that training children was "terrible and insane" but noted that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Named Entities

Among those penalized was a retired Colombian officer, a dual Colombian-Italian national and ex-soldier located in the United Arab Emirates. The Treasury accused him a central role in enlisting and transporting former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was penalized as well.

Also on the restricted list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who the Treasury stated ran a firm accused of handling funds and payroll for the network. "In 2024 and 2025, American entities associated with Duque engaged in numerous wire transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the Treasury statement said.

Individual Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the other individual to be penalized, with the company she managed accused of financial transactions connected to Duque and his businesses.

"The US once more urges outside forces to stop giving funding and arms to the warring parties," the department announced.

Expert Analysis

Elizabeth Dickinson, from a conflict think tank, described the sanctions as a "very significant" step, noting that "targeting the enablers is the correct approach".

Furthermore, Bogotá recently passed a law ratifying the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, aiming to curb years of participation by its nationals in international fights and transform its security approach.

A mercenary specialist, 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 commented. The United Arab Emirates has been widely accused of arming the RSF, an accusation it has denied. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," the expert cautioned.