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The Washington has enforced penalties on a operation of four individuals and four companies accused of recruiting Colombian mercenaries to support and educate a armed faction in Sudan which the US alleges of genocidal acts.

Network Composition

Announcing the measures on Tuesday, the American treasury stated the scheme was primarily made up of Colombian nationals and companies.

Hundreds of former Colombian military personnel have been recruited to go to the Sudanese warzone to combat beside the Sudanese RSF militia, a faction linked to horrific war crimes including ethnically targeted slaughter and mass abductions.

Discovery of Participation

The role of these mercenaries first came to light in 2024, prompted by an inquiry which revealed that over three hundred former soldiers had been contracted to participate in the war – an revelation that resulted in an unprecedented apology from officials in Bogotá.

These South American veterans have long been considered as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their considerable warzone knowledge acquired during a long-running domestic war, familiarity with Nato equipment, and high-level combat training.

Activities in Sudan

In the conflict, the mercenaries have allegedly instructed underage fighters, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and engaged in frontline combat. A mercenary was quoted as saying that working with child soldiers was "awful and crazy" but commented that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Named Entities

Among those targeted was a dual national, a dual Colombian-Italian national and ex-soldier based in the United Arab Emirates. The Treasury accused him a central role in recruiting and deploying ex-military personnel to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was similarly targeted.

Also on the restricted list was Duque Botero, a dual national who authorities say ran a firm accused of processing money and salaries for the recruitment operation. "In 2024 and 2025, US-based firms connected to Duque engaged in multiple financial transactions, totalling millions of US dollars," the official announcement said.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the fourth individual to be penalized, with the firm she operated alleged to have wire transfers linked to Duque and his operations.

"The United States again calls on foreign parties to halt the flow of funding and arms to the warring parties," the agency stated.

Analyst Commentary

An expert, with the International Crisis Group, described the measures as a "highly important" development, saying that "identifying the recruiters is the correct approach".

She added that, Colombia has enacted a law endorsing the global treaty against mercenarism, designed to limit decades of Colombian involvement in overseas wars and transform its security approach.

A mercenary specialist, a scholar on the subject, advised additional measures, saying that "restrictions are needed but not enough for dealing with widespread use of contractors".

"It operates in the black market and operating from the Emirates, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he said. The Emirati government has been repeatedly implicated of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, claims it rejects. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," the expert cautioned.