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The Washington has levied restrictions on a group of several persons and entities charged of hiring Colombian mercenaries to fight for and train a armed faction in Sudan the United States claims of genocidal acts.

Network Composition

Announcing the restrictions on this week, the US Treasury Department stated the network was primarily made up of Colombian citizens and firms.

Scores of ex-soldiers from Colombia have allegedly journeyed to the Sudanese warzone to operate with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a group linked to terrible atrocities including massacres based on ethnicity and large-scale abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The role of these mercenaries first came to light in 2024, following an investigation which disclosed that over three hundred retired troops had been hired to engage in combat – an discovery that resulted in an unusual statement of regret from officials in Bogotá.

These South American veterans have historically been seen as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their considerable warzone knowledge gleaned from decades of civil war, familiarity with Nato equipment, and elite military instruction.

Reported Actions

In Sudan, the Colombians have been accused of teaching child soldiers, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and participated in direct battles. One source previously stated that instructing minors was "horrific and irrational" but commented that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those sanctioned was a retired Colombian officer, a dual Colombian-Italian national and former army officer located in the Dubai. The Treasury said he had a key part in recruiting and deploying former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was similarly targeted.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who authorities say ran a firm accused of processing money and salaries for the recruitment operation. "Recently, US-based firms connected to Duque carried out numerous wire transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the official announcement noted.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the final person to be targeted, with the company she managed alleged to have money transfers associated with Duque and his companies.

"The United States again calls on foreign parties to cease providing monetary and weaponry aid to the warring parties," the department announced.

Reaction

A senior analyst, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, labeled the sanctions as a "major" step, noting that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the correct approach".

Furthermore, Bogotá recently passed a statute endorsing the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, aiming to curb years of participation by its nationals in foreign conflicts and change domestic defense strategy.

Another expert, a authority on private military contractors, advised additional measures, noting that "restrictions are needed but not enough for combating widespread use of contractors".

"It operates in the black market and operating from Dubai, which is relatively sanction-proof," he commented. The UAE has been widely accused of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, claims it rejects. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," he advised.