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The Washington has enforced penalties on a group of four people and four firms alleged of recruiting South American contractors to support and educate a militia force in Sudan the United States claims of committing genocide.

Operation Structure

Revealing the restrictions on Tuesday, the American treasury stated the operation was mostly comprised of Colombian citizens and firms.

Numerous of retired Colombian troops have allegedly journeyed to the Sudanese warzone to operate with the RSF paramilitary group, a group linked to terrible atrocities encompassing massacres based on ethnicity and widespread kidnappings.

Revelation of Role

The participation of ex-soldiers initially emerged in 2024, after an investigation which revealed that over three hundred ex-military personnel had been recruited to participate in the war – an event that led to an unusual statement of regret from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

Former Colombian military have historically been seen as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their considerable warzone knowledge resulting from a long-running domestic war, familiarity with Nato equipment, and high-level combat training.

Activities in Sudan

In the Sudanese theater, the Colombians have reportedly trained child soldiers, provided drone warfare training, and fought directly on the frontlines. An individual involved previously stated that instructing minors was "terrible and insane" but noted that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Named Entities

Among those targeted was a retired Colombian officer, a dual Colombian-Italian national and ex-soldier operating from the UAE. The Treasury alleged he played a key part in enlisting and transporting ex-military personnel to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was similarly targeted.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who authorities say managed a business linked to managing finances and payments for the network. "In 2024 and 2025, American entities associated with Duque carried out numerous wire transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the official announcement stated.

Individual Mónica Muñoz was the other individual to be targeted, with the entity she oversaw accused of money transfers connected to Duque and his businesses.

"Washington reiterates its demand for outside forces to stop giving funding and arms to the belligerents," the agency announced.

Reaction

An expert, from a conflict think tank, called the actions as a "very significant" step, stating that "targeting the enablers is the proper strategy".

She added that, Bogotá ratified a law endorsing the anti-mercenary convention, aiming to curb decades of Colombian involvement in international fights and transform its security approach.

Another expert, a authority on private military contractors, advised additional measures, stating that "penalties are required yet incomplete for combating the growing mercenary trade".

"It’s an illicit economy and operating from Dubai, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he commented. The UAE has been repeatedly implicated of providing arms to the militia, allegations it disputes. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," the expert cautioned.