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The US government has imposed sanctions on a group of four people and four firms accused of enlisting former Colombian soldiers to combat alongside and instruct a militia force in Sudan the United States claims of committing genocide.

Operation Structure

Revealing the restrictions on Tuesday, the US Treasury Department stated the scheme was largely composed of Colombian nationals and companies.

Scores of ex-soldiers from Colombia have allegedly journeyed to the conflict in Sudan to operate with the Sudanese RSF militia, a group accused of severe violations encompassing ethnically targeted slaughter and mass abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The participation of ex-soldiers initially emerged last year, prompted by an report which found that hundreds of retired troops had been recruited to participate in the war – an discovery that resulted in an unusual statement of regret from officials in Bogotá.

Former Colombian military have widely regarded as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their vast combat experience gleaned from years of internal conflict, familiarity with Western military gear, and superior tactical education.

Role in the Conflict

In the Sudanese theater, the mercenaries have reportedly trained child soldiers, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and fought directly on the frontlines. One source was quoted as saying that instructing minors was "awful and crazy" but noted that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those sanctioned was a retired Colombian officer, a dual Colombian-Italian national and ex-soldier based in the UAE. The government said he had a pivotal function in recruiting and deploying mercenaries to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was similarly targeted.

Also on the restricted list was Mateo Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who officials alleged managed a business linked to managing finances and payments for the recruitment operation. "In 2024 and 2025, companies in the United States linked to Duque conducted several money transfers, worth millions," the government release said.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz was the other individual to be sanctioned, with the entity she oversaw said to have conducted financial transactions linked to Duque and his companies.

"The United States again calls on outside forces to halt the flow of funding and arms to the combatants," the agency announced.

Analyst Commentary

A senior analyst, with the International Crisis Group, labeled the measures as a "very significant" development, noting that "targeting the enablers is the correct approach".

It was also noted that, the Colombian government recently passed a piece of legislation approving the global treaty against mercenarism, aiming to curb decades of Colombian involvement in international fights and reshape domestic defense strategy.

A mercenary specialist, an expert on mercenaries, urged more caution, stating that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for addressing widespread use of contractors".

"It’s an illicit economy and centered in Dubai, which is difficult to penalize," he commented. The United Arab Emirates has been widely accused of arming the RSF, an accusation it has denied. "This trend will probably continue," he advised.