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The United States has levied restrictions on a operation of four people and four firms accused of recruiting former Colombian soldiers to fight for and train a armed faction in Sudan which the US alleges of acts of genocide.

Operation Structure

Announcing the measures on Tuesday, the American treasury stated the network was largely composed of Colombian nationals and companies.

Numerous of ex-soldiers from Colombia have allegedly journeyed to the conflict in Sudan to operate with the RSF paramilitary group, a faction implicated in horrific war crimes including massacres based on ethnicity and mass abductions.

Discovery of Participation

The participation of ex-soldiers was first uncovered the previous year, prompted by an investigation which found that more than 300 former soldiers had been recruited to participate in the war – an revelation that resulted in an unprecedented apology from the Colombian government.

Former Colombian military have widely regarded as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their vast combat experience gleaned from a long-running domestic war, familiarity with Western military gear, and superior tactical education.

Role in the Conflict

In the conflict, the Colombians have been accused of teaching child soldiers, provided drone warfare training, and engaged in frontline combat. A mercenary was quoted as saying that instructing minors was "terrible and insane" but commented that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Named Entities

Among those penalized was a dual national, a individual with dual citizenship and retired Colombian military officer operating from the Dubai. The Treasury alleged he played a central role in recruiting and deploying former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was penalized as well.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who authorities say managed a business accused of managing finances and payments for the recruitment operation. "In 2024 and 2025, US-based firms linked to Duque carried out several money transfers, worth millions," the official announcement noted.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the other individual to be sanctioned, with the company she managed accused of financial transactions connected to Duque and his operations.

"The US once more urges outside forces to cease providing monetary and weaponry aid to the belligerents," the Treasury announced.

Analyst Commentary

Elizabeth Dickinson, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, described the measures as a "very significant" development, saying that "identifying the recruiters is the right way to go".

She added that, Colombia recently passed a piece of legislation ratifying the global treaty against mercenarism, seeking to reduce decades of Colombian involvement in foreign conflicts and transform domestic defense strategy.

Another expert, a scholar on the subject, urged more caution, noting that "penalties are required yet incomplete for dealing with widespread use of contractors".

"It’s an illicit economy and based out of Dubai, which is difficult to penalize," he said. The United Arab Emirates has been widely accused of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, claims it rejects. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," the expert cautioned.