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The Washington has levied restrictions on a network of four people and four firms charged of hiring former Colombian soldiers to fight for and train a militia force in Sudan which the US alleges of genocidal acts.

Operation Structure

Disclosing the restrictions on Tuesday, the US Treasury Department stated the operation was primarily made up of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Numerous of former Colombian military personnel have reportedly travelled to the conflict in Sudan to combat beside the RSF paramilitary group, a faction linked to severe violations including massacres based on ethnicity and large-scale abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The role of these mercenaries first came to light in 2024, following an inquiry which found that more than 300 retired troops had been hired to fight – an discovery that resulted in an unprecedented apology from officials in Bogotá.

Former Colombian military have historically been seen as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their extensive battlefield experience gleaned from a long-running domestic war, knowledge of advanced weaponry, and elite military instruction.

Activities in Sudan

In Sudan, the mercenaries have allegedly instructed child soldiers, provided drone warfare training, and fought directly on the frontlines. A mercenary previously stated that instructing minors was "awful and crazy" but noted that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Named Entities

Among those targeted was a dual national, a individual with dual citizenship and former army officer operating from the United Arab Emirates. The Treasury accused him a central role in enlisting and transporting mercenaries to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was similarly targeted.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Duque Botero, a dual national who the Treasury stated ran a firm implicated in handling funds and payroll for the scheme. "Recently, US-based firms linked to Duque engaged in numerous wire transfers, amounting to millions," the Treasury statement stated.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz was the other individual to be targeted, with the company she managed accused of wire transfers connected to Duque and his operations.

"Washington reiterates its demand for foreign parties to cease providing financial and military support to the belligerents," the department stated.

Reaction

An expert, from a conflict think tank, described the sanctions as a "very significant" step, noting that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the proper strategy".

It was also noted that, Bogotá has enacted a piece of legislation ratifying the global treaty against mercenarism, aiming to curb decades of Colombian involvement in foreign conflicts and change its security approach.

Another expert, a scholar on the subject, called for greater wariness, noting that "penalties are required yet incomplete for addressing widespread use of contractors".

"This is a shadow economy and based out of the UAE, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he stated. The Emirati government has been frequently alleged of arming the RSF, allegations it disputes. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," the expert cautioned.