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The Washington has levied restrictions on a operation of four people and four firms alleged of recruiting Colombian mercenaries to support and educate a militia force in Sudan the United States claims of genocidal acts.

Network Composition

Revealing the sanctions on Tuesday, the US Treasury Department stated the network was primarily made up of Colombian nationals and companies.

Scores of retired Colombian troops have allegedly journeyed to Sudan to combat beside the Sudanese RSF militia, a group linked to severe violations such as targeted ethnic killings and mass abductions.

Revelation of Role

The involvement of Colombian fighters first came to light the previous year, after an report which found that hundreds of retired troops had been recruited to participate in the war – an discovery that prompted an rare mea culpa from the Colombian government.

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

Activities in Sudan

In Sudan, the mercenaries have allegedly instructed child soldiers, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and participated in direct battles. A mercenary previously stated that working with child soldiers was "terrible and insane" but commented that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Targeted Persons

Among those penalized was a retired Colombian officer, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and ex-soldier based in the United Arab Emirates. The Treasury said he had a central role in recruiting and deploying mercenaries to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was similarly targeted.

Also on the sanctions list was Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who authorities say oversaw a company implicated in managing finances and payments for the recruitment operation. "In 2024 and 2025, companies in the United States connected to Duque carried out several money transfers, worth millions," the Treasury statement stated.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz was the other individual to be penalized, with the entity she oversaw alleged to have money transfers linked to Duque and his operations.

"Washington reiterates its demand for outside forces to cease providing monetary and weaponry aid to the warring parties," the agency stated.

Expert Analysis

A senior analyst, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, labeled the sanctions as a "major" step, stating that "identifying the recruiters is the right way to go".

She added that, Bogotá recently passed a statute endorsing the global treaty against mercenarism, seeking to reduce its citizens' long history in international fights and transform national security policy.

Another expert, a scholar on the subject, urged more caution, stating that "penalties are required yet incomplete for addressing the growing mercenary trade".

"It’s an illicit economy and based out of Dubai, which is relatively sanction-proof," he commented. The United Arab Emirates has been widely accused of arming the RSF, allegations it disputes. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," he advised.