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The Washington has imposed sanctions on a operation of several persons and entities accused of recruiting Colombian mercenaries to support and educate a armed faction in Sudan that Washington accuses of acts of genocide.

Operation Structure

Announcing the sanctions on this week, the Treasury stated the operation was largely composed of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Hundreds of ex-soldiers from Colombia have been recruited to go to Sudan to operate with the RSF paramilitary group, a group linked to horrific war crimes including targeted ethnic killings and widespread kidnappings.

Emergence of Involvement

The participation of ex-soldiers initially emerged last year, after an investigation which disclosed that hundreds of retired troops had been recruited to engage in combat – an revelation that led to an rare mea culpa from officials in Bogotá.

These South American veterans have long been considered as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their considerable warzone knowledge resulting from a long-running domestic war, training on advanced weaponry, and superior tactical education.

Activities in Sudan

In Sudan, the Colombians have been accused of teaching minors, taught fighters to pilot drones, and engaged in frontline combat. One source was quoted as saying that working with child soldiers was "horrific and irrational" but added that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Targeted Persons

Among those targeted was a dual national, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and ex-soldier based in the United Arab Emirates. The US authorities alleged he played a pivotal function in recruiting and deploying mercenaries to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was similarly targeted.

Also on the penalty list was Duque Botero, a dual national who the Treasury stated ran a firm implicated in managing finances and payments for the network. "In 2024 and 2025, American entities linked to Duque carried out numerous wire transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the official announcement stated.

Individual Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the final person to be sanctioned, with the company she managed alleged to have money transfers connected to Duque and his businesses.

"The US once more urges external actors to stop giving financial and military support to the belligerents," the agency stated.

Analyst Commentary

An expert, with the International Crisis Group, labeled the measures as a "very significant" milestone, saying that "targeting the enablers is the proper strategy".

She added that, Colombia has enacted a statute ratifying the anti-mercenary convention, designed to limit years of participation by its nationals in international fights and reshape domestic defense strategy.

Sean McFate, a authority on private military contractors, advised additional measures, stating that "penalties are required yet incomplete for combating the growing mercenary trade".

"It’s an illicit economy and operating from the UAE, which is difficult to penalize," he said. The United Arab Emirates has been repeatedly implicated of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, allegations it disputes. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," he advised.