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The Washington has imposed sanctions on a network of several persons and entities charged of hiring Colombian mercenaries to combat alongside and instruct a armed faction in Sudan that Washington accuses of committing genocide.

Network Composition

Disclosing the measures on Tuesday, the Treasury stated the operation was largely composed of Colombian citizens and firms.

Hundreds of retired Colombian troops have been recruited to go to the conflict in Sudan to operate with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a faction implicated in horrific war crimes encompassing targeted ethnic killings and widespread kidnappings.

Discovery of Participation

The participation of ex-soldiers was first uncovered in 2024, prompted by an report which disclosed that more than 300 former soldiers had been contracted to participate in the war – an discovery that prompted an rare mea culpa from officials in Bogotá.

These South American veterans have long been considered as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their extensive battlefield experience gleaned from a long-running domestic war, training on Western military gear, and elite military instruction.

Reported Actions

In the Sudanese theater, the contractors have reportedly trained underage fighters, provided drone warfare training, and fought directly on the frontlines. A mercenary previously stated that working with child soldiers was "terrible and insane" but noted that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those sanctioned was a dual national, a dual Colombian-Italian national and ex-soldier operating from the UAE. The Treasury accused him a key part in hiring and sending ex-military personnel to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was also sanctioned.

Also on the restricted list was Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who authorities say managed a business implicated in managing finances and payments for the scheme. "In 2024 and 2025, American entities associated with Duque engaged in several money transfers, amounting to millions," the Treasury statement said.

Individual Mónica Muñoz was the fourth individual to be penalized, with the company she managed alleged to have wire transfers connected to Duque and his operations.

"The United States again calls on outside forces to halt the flow of monetary and weaponry aid to the combatants," the agency stated.

Expert Analysis

A senior analyst, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, called the sanctions as a "major" development, saying that "targeting the enablers is the proper strategy".

Furthermore, Colombia recently passed a statute ratifying the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, seeking to reduce years of participation by its nationals in overseas wars and transform domestic defense strategy.

Sean McFate, an expert on mercenaries, advised additional measures, noting that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for dealing with the growing mercenary trade".

"This is a shadow economy and based out of the UAE, which is difficult to penalize," he commented. The UAE has been widely accused of arming the RSF, claims it rejects. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," McFate warned.