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The Washington has levied restrictions on a network of four individuals and four companies accused of hiring former Colombian soldiers to fight for and train a Sudanese paramilitary group the United States claims of genocidal acts.

Network Composition

Revealing the sanctions on Tuesday, the American treasury stated the operation was mostly comprised of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Hundreds of retired Colombian troops have been recruited to go to Sudan to combat beside the Sudanese RSF militia, a group linked to severe violations such as ethnically targeted slaughter and large-scale abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The role of these mercenaries first came to light in 2024, following an inquiry which found that over three hundred ex-military personnel had been hired to participate in the war – an discovery that led to an unusual statement of regret from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

These South American veterans have long been considered as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their considerable warzone knowledge gleaned from a long-running domestic war, familiarity with Western military gear, and high-level combat training.

Activities in Sudan

In the conflict, the mercenaries have been accused of teaching minors, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and participated in direct battles. One source remarked that instructing minors was "terrible and insane" but noted that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Named Entities

Among those targeted was a dual national, a dual Colombian-Italian national and retired Colombian military officer located in the Dubai. The US authorities accused him a key part in hiring and sending former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was similarly targeted.

Also on the restricted list was Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who authorities say managed a business implicated in managing finances and payments for the network. "In 2024 and 2025, US-based firms connected to Duque carried out numerous wire transfers, worth millions," the government release noted.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the fourth individual to be sanctioned, with the company she managed alleged to have wire transfers linked to Duque and his businesses.

"The United States again calls on foreign parties to cease providing financial and military support to the belligerents," the department announced.

Analyst Commentary

Elizabeth Dickinson, with the International Crisis Group, labeled the measures as a "major" development, noting that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the proper strategy".

It was also noted that, Bogotá recently passed a statute approving the global treaty against mercenarism, seeking to reduce decades of Colombian involvement in foreign conflicts and change domestic defense strategy.

Another expert, an expert on mercenaries, advised additional measures, noting that "restrictions are needed but not enough for combating the growing mercenary trade".

"It operates in the black market and based out of the Emirates, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he commented. The Emirati government has been widely accused of providing arms to the militia, claims it rejects. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," he advised.