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The Washington has levied restrictions on a operation of four individuals and four companies alleged of hiring Colombian mercenaries to combat alongside and instruct a armed faction in Sudan the United States claims of acts of genocide.

Group Makeup

Disclosing the measures on Tuesday, the Treasury stated the operation was largely composed of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

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.

Revelation of Role

The role of these mercenaries initially emerged the previous year, prompted by an investigation which disclosed that more than 300 former soldiers had been hired to engage in combat – an discovery that resulted in an unprecedented apology from officials in Bogotá.

Colombian ex-soldiers have widely regarded as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their vast combat experience resulting from decades of civil war, training on Western military gear, and superior tactical education.

Activities in Sudan

In Sudan, the Colombians have been accused of teaching underage fighters, provided drone warfare training, and engaged in frontline combat. One source was quoted as saying that training children was "terrible and insane" but added that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Named Entities

Among those penalized was a retired Colombian officer, a individual with dual citizenship and ex-soldier located in the Dubai. The US authorities said he had a key part in enlisting and transporting former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was also sanctioned.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo 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 linked to Duque engaged in numerous wire transfers, amounting to millions," the government release noted.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the fourth individual to be targeted, with the firm she operated accused of money transfers linked to Duque and his operations.

"The United States again calls on outside forces to stop giving funding and arms to the combatants," the department stated.

Expert Analysis

A senior analyst, from a conflict think tank, described the sanctions as a "highly important" milestone, stating that "targeting the enablers is the proper strategy".

Furthermore, Bogotá recently passed a statute ratifying the anti-mercenary convention, aiming to curb decades of Colombian involvement in overseas wars and change its security approach.

Sean McFate, a authority on private military contractors, called for greater wariness, noting that "restrictions are needed but not enough for dealing with rampant mercenarism".

"It operates in the black market and operating from the Emirates, which is difficult to penalize," he commented. The UAE has been widely accused of providing arms to the militia, an accusation it has denied. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," the expert cautioned.