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The US government has levied restrictions on a operation of several persons and entities alleged of recruiting former Colombian soldiers to support and educate a armed faction in Sudan the United States claims of genocidal acts.

Operation Structure

Disclosing the restrictions on this week, the Treasury stated the operation was mostly comprised of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Numerous of former Colombian military personnel have reportedly travelled to the Sudanese warzone to combat beside the RSF paramilitary group, a group implicated in terrible atrocities such as massacres based on ethnicity and mass abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The role of these mercenaries initially emerged last year, after an inquiry which found that hundreds of ex-military personnel had been hired to engage in combat – an revelation that led to an rare mea culpa from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

These South American veterans have historically been seen as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their vast combat experience acquired during decades of civil war, familiarity with Nato equipment, and elite military instruction.

Role in the Conflict

In Sudan, the mercenaries have allegedly instructed 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 added that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Targeted Persons

Among those penalized was a dual national, a dual Colombian-Italian national and former army officer located in the United Arab Emirates. The government accused him a key part in recruiting and deploying former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was similarly targeted.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual national who the Treasury stated oversaw a company linked to processing money and salaries for the recruitment operation. "In 2024 and 2025, American entities linked to Duque engaged in numerous wire transfers, amounting to millions," the official announcement stated.

Individual Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the final person to be penalized, with the company she managed accused of wire transfers linked to Duque and his operations.

"The US once more urges foreign parties to halt the flow of monetary and weaponry aid to the warring parties," the agency stated.

Expert Analysis

A senior analyst, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, called the actions as a "highly important" milestone, noting that "identifying the recruiters is the right way to go".

It was also noted that, Bogotá ratified a law ratifying the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, aiming to curb decades of Colombian involvement in overseas wars and transform its security approach.

A mercenary specialist, an expert on mercenaries, advised additional measures, noting that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for combating widespread use of contractors".

"It operates in the black market and operating from the UAE, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he commented. The Emirati government has been repeatedly implicated of arming the RSF, allegations it disputes. "This trend will probably continue," the expert cautioned.