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The US government has enforced penalties on a group of several persons and entities alleged of recruiting former Colombian soldiers to fight for and train a armed faction in Sudan which the US alleges of committing genocide.

Operation Structure

Revealing the measures on this week, the Treasury stated the scheme was primarily made up of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Scores of former Colombian military personnel have allegedly journeyed to the conflict in Sudan to operate with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a force accused of terrible atrocities encompassing targeted ethnic killings and widespread kidnappings.

Discovery of Participation

The role of these mercenaries was first uncovered last year, prompted by an report which revealed that hundreds of ex-military personnel had been hired to fight – an discovery that resulted in an unusual statement of regret from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

These South American veterans have historically been seen as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their considerable warzone knowledge acquired during decades of civil war, familiarity with Nato equipment, and elite military instruction.

Activities in Sudan

In the conflict, the Colombians have allegedly instructed minors, taught fighters to pilot drones, and engaged in frontline combat. An individual involved remarked that training children was "awful and crazy" but noted that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Targeted Persons

Among those penalized was a dual national, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and ex-soldier operating from the United Arab Emirates. The government alleged he played a key part in recruiting and deploying mercenaries to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was penalized as well.

Also on the penalty list was Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who officials alleged managed a business linked to managing finances and payments for the network. "In 2024 and 2025, American entities associated with Duque engaged in multiple financial transactions, totalling millions of US dollars," the government release stated.

Individual Mónica Muñoz was the other individual to be sanctioned, with the company she managed accused of wire transfers associated with Duque and his businesses.

"The United States again calls on outside forces to stop giving monetary and weaponry aid to the belligerents," the Treasury stated.

Reaction

A senior analyst, from a conflict think tank, called the sanctions as a "very significant" milestone, saying that "targeting the enablers is the right way to go".

Furthermore, the Colombian government has enacted a law ratifying the global treaty against mercenarism, designed to limit years of participation by its nationals in overseas wars and change domestic defense strategy.

A mercenary specialist, a authority on private military contractors, called for greater wariness, saying that "restrictions are needed but not enough for addressing rampant mercenarism".

"It’s an illicit economy and centered in Dubai, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he stated. The United Arab Emirates has been frequently alleged of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, claims it rejects. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," the expert cautioned.