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The Washington has levied restrictions on a operation of four individuals and four companies accused of hiring former Colombian soldiers to combat alongside and instruct a Sudanese paramilitary group the United States claims of acts of genocide.

Operation Structure

Revealing the restrictions on this week, the Treasury stated the operation was largely composed of Colombian nationals and companies.

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

Emergence of Involvement

The role of these mercenaries was first uncovered the previous year, prompted by an inquiry which revealed that over three hundred retired troops had been hired to participate in the war – an discovery that prompted an rare mea culpa from the Colombian government.

Colombian ex-soldiers have historically been seen as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their considerable warzone knowledge gleaned from years of internal conflict, knowledge of advanced weaponry, and high-level combat training.

Activities in Sudan

In the conflict, the mercenaries have been accused of teaching minors, provided drone warfare training, and fought directly on the frontlines. One source was quoted as saying that working with child soldiers was "awful and crazy" but noted that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Targeted Persons

Among those sanctioned was a dual national, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and retired Colombian military officer based in the United Arab Emirates. The Treasury accused him a central role in hiring and sending ex-military personnel to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was similarly targeted.

Also on the sanctions list was Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who authorities say managed a business linked to managing finances and payments for the recruitment operation. "In 2024 and 2025, American entities linked to Duque conducted several money transfers, worth millions," the Treasury statement stated.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the fourth individual to be penalized, with the company she managed said to have conducted wire transfers connected to Duque and his operations.

"Washington reiterates its demand for external actors to stop giving financial and military support to the combatants," the Treasury stated.

Reaction

A senior analyst, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, labeled the measures as a "major" step, saying that "targeting the enablers is the correct approach".

Furthermore, the Colombian government recently passed a piece of legislation ratifying the anti-mercenary convention, designed to limit decades of Colombian involvement in foreign conflicts and transform national security policy.

Sean McFate, a scholar on the subject, advised additional measures, saying that "restrictions are needed but not enough for addressing the growing mercenary trade".

"It’s an illicit economy and centered in the UAE, which is difficult to penalize," he stated. The Emirati government has been frequently alleged of arming the RSF, claims it rejects. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," he advised.