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The United States has levied restrictions on a group of several persons and entities alleged of enlisting Colombian mercenaries to support and educate a militia force in Sudan that Washington accuses of committing genocide.

Operation Structure

Revealing the sanctions on Tuesday, the US Treasury Department stated the scheme was largely composed of Colombian citizens and firms.

Hundreds of ex-soldiers from Colombia have been recruited to go to the conflict in Sudan to operate with the RSF paramilitary group, a faction implicated in horrific war crimes such as massacres based on ethnicity and mass abductions.

Revelation of Role

The role of these mercenaries initially emerged in 2024, prompted by an inquiry which revealed that more than 300 retired troops had been recruited to engage in combat – an discovery that led to an unprecedented apology from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

These South American veterans have long been considered as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their considerable warzone knowledge resulting from years of internal conflict, knowledge of Western military gear, and high-level combat training.

Reported Actions

In the Sudanese theater, the Colombians have reportedly trained underage fighters, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and engaged in frontline combat. A mercenary was quoted as saying that training children was "awful and crazy" but noted that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Named Entities

Among those sanctioned was a retired Colombian officer, a dual Colombian-Italian national and ex-soldier operating from the Dubai. The US authorities alleged he played a pivotal function in hiring and sending ex-military personnel to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was also sanctioned.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual national who authorities say ran a firm implicated in processing money and salaries for the scheme. "In 2024 and 2025, American entities associated with Duque carried out several money transfers, worth millions," the official announcement noted.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz was the final person to be targeted, with the company she managed alleged to have financial transactions linked to Duque and his businesses.

"The United States again calls on outside forces to halt the flow of monetary and weaponry aid to the warring parties," the agency announced.

Expert Analysis

Elizabeth Dickinson, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, called the measures as a "major" milestone, saying that "targeting the enablers is the proper strategy".

It was also noted that, the Colombian government recently passed a piece of legislation ratifying the anti-mercenary convention, seeking to reduce years of participation by its nationals in foreign conflicts and reshape its security approach.

A mercenary specialist, an expert on mercenaries, advised additional measures, stating that "restrictions are needed but not enough for combating widespread use of contractors".

"It’s an illicit economy and centered in the UAE, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he stated. The United Arab Emirates has been widely accused of providing arms to the militia, allegations it disputes. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," he advised.