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The US government has enforced penalties on a operation of several persons and entities accused of recruiting former Colombian soldiers to support and educate a Sudanese paramilitary group that Washington accuses of acts of genocide.

Operation Structure

Announcing the sanctions on Tuesday, the Treasury stated the network was primarily made up of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Scores of retired Colombian troops have allegedly journeyed to the Sudanese warzone to fight alongside the RSF paramilitary group, a faction accused of terrible atrocities such as targeted ethnic killings and mass abductions.

Discovery of Participation

The involvement of Colombian fighters first came to light in 2024, after an investigation which found that more than 300 ex-military personnel had been contracted to fight – an discovery that led to an unprecedented apology from the Colombian government.

Former Colombian military have historically been seen as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their extensive battlefield experience acquired during decades of civil war, familiarity with Nato equipment, and superior tactical education.

Activities in Sudan

In Sudan, the Colombians have been accused of teaching minors, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and fought directly on the frontlines. An individual involved previously stated that working with child soldiers was "terrible and insane" but noted that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Named Entities

Among those penalized was a dual national, a dual Colombian-Italian national and former army officer based in the Dubai. The US authorities alleged he played a key part in recruiting and deploying former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was also sanctioned.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who officials alleged oversaw a company accused of processing money and salaries for the recruitment operation. "In 2024 and 2025, American entities linked to Duque engaged in several money transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the official announcement said.

Individual Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the fourth individual to be targeted, with the entity she oversaw accused of money transfers connected to Duque and his operations.

"The United States again calls on outside forces to stop giving financial and military support to the combatants," the agency said in a statement.

Reaction

A senior analyst, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, described the actions as a "very significant" step, noting that "targeting the enablers is the correct approach".

She added that, the Colombian government has enacted a statute ratifying the global treaty against mercenarism, seeking to reduce decades of Colombian involvement in foreign conflicts and reshape national security policy.

Sean McFate, a authority on private military contractors, advised additional measures, stating that "restrictions are needed but not enough for addressing rampant mercenarism".

"It operates in the black market and operating from the Emirates, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he commented. The UAE has been widely accused of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, an accusation it has denied. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," he advised.