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The Washington has levied restrictions on a operation of four people and four firms alleged of enlisting Colombian mercenaries to support and educate a Sudanese paramilitary group the United States claims of genocidal acts.

Operation Structure

Revealing the sanctions on this week, the American treasury stated the operation was primarily made up of Colombian citizens and firms.

Scores of former Colombian military personnel have reportedly travelled to the conflict in Sudan to combat beside the RSF paramilitary group, a group linked to terrible atrocities including massacres based on ethnicity and widespread kidnappings.

Emergence of Involvement

The participation of ex-soldiers first came to light last year, prompted by an inquiry which revealed that hundreds of ex-military personnel had been contracted to fight – an revelation that resulted in an unusual statement of regret from officials in Bogotá.

These South American veterans have widely regarded as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their vast combat experience resulting from decades of civil war, training on advanced weaponry, and superior tactical education.

Role in the Conflict

In the conflict, the Colombians have allegedly instructed minors, taught fighters to pilot drones, and participated in direct battles. An individual involved was quoted as saying that working with child soldiers was "horrific and irrational" but added that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those sanctioned was a dual national, a dual Colombian-Italian national and retired Colombian military officer operating from the UAE. The US authorities alleged he played a key part in hiring and sending former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was penalized as well.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who officials alleged managed a business linked to processing money and salaries for the scheme. "In 2024 and 2025, US-based firms associated with Duque conducted multiple financial transactions, worth millions," the official announcement said.

Individual Mónica Muñoz was the final person to be sanctioned, with the entity she oversaw said to have conducted wire transfers associated with Duque and his companies.

"Washington reiterates its demand for external actors to stop giving monetary and weaponry aid to the belligerents," the Treasury announced.

Reaction

Elizabeth Dickinson, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, called the sanctions as a "major" milestone, saying that "targeting the enablers is the right way to go".

She added that, Colombia recently passed a statute ratifying the anti-mercenary convention, seeking to reduce years of participation by its nationals in international fights and change national security policy.

Sean McFate, a authority on private military contractors, called for greater wariness, noting that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for combating widespread use of contractors".

"It’s an illicit economy and operating from the UAE, which is difficult to penalize," he said. The United Arab Emirates has been frequently alleged of providing arms to the militia, allegations it disputes. "This trend will probably continue," the expert cautioned.