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The US government has enforced penalties on a operation of several persons and entities charged of enlisting former Colombian soldiers to fight for and train a militia force in Sudan which the US alleges of genocidal acts.

Network Composition

Revealing the restrictions on Tuesday, the US Treasury Department stated the operation was mostly comprised of Colombian nationals and companies.

Numerous of retired Colombian troops have been recruited to go to the conflict in Sudan to fight alongside the Sudanese RSF militia, a faction linked to horrific war crimes such as targeted ethnic killings and mass abductions.

Discovery of Participation

The participation of ex-soldiers first came to light last year, prompted by an report which disclosed that more than 300 retired troops had been contracted to fight – an discovery that resulted in an unusual statement of regret from officials in Bogotá.

These South American veterans have historically been seen as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their vast combat experience resulting from years of internal conflict, training on Nato equipment, and elite military instruction.

Reported Actions

In Sudan, the mercenaries have been accused of teaching minors, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and fought directly on the frontlines. One source previously stated that training children was "awful and crazy" but noted that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Targeted Persons

Among those sanctioned was a retired Colombian officer, a individual with dual citizenship and ex-soldier operating from the UAE. The US authorities alleged he played a key part in recruiting and deploying mercenaries to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was similarly targeted.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Duque Botero, a dual national who the Treasury stated oversaw a company accused of handling funds and payroll for the network. "In 2024 and 2025, companies in the United States linked to Duque carried out numerous wire transfers, amounting to millions," the official announcement said.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz was the other individual to be targeted, with the firm she operated alleged to have financial transactions linked to Duque and his operations.

"Washington reiterates its demand for external actors to halt the flow of monetary and weaponry aid to the belligerents," the department stated.

Expert Analysis

A senior analyst, with the International Crisis Group, described the measures as a "highly important" development, stating that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the proper strategy".

Furthermore, the Colombian government recently passed a piece of legislation endorsing the anti-mercenary convention, aiming to curb decades of Colombian involvement in foreign conflicts and reshape domestic defense strategy.

A mercenary specialist, a scholar on the subject, advised additional measures, stating that "penalties are required yet incomplete for addressing widespread use of contractors".

"It operates in the black market and centered in the Emirates, which is relatively sanction-proof," he stated. The Emirati government has been repeatedly implicated of providing arms to the militia, an accusation it has denied. "This trend will probably continue," McFate warned.