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The Washington has enforced penalties on a operation of several persons and entities charged of enlisting former Colombian soldiers to support and educate a militia force in Sudan the United States claims of acts of genocide.

Group Makeup

Announcing the measures on this week, the Treasury stated the operation was largely composed of Colombian nationals and companies.

Hundreds of retired Colombian troops have been recruited to go to the conflict in Sudan to operate with the Sudanese RSF militia, a faction implicated in terrible atrocities including massacres based on ethnicity and mass abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The involvement of Colombian fighters first came to light the previous year, after an investigation which disclosed that more than 300 former soldiers had been contracted to participate in the war – an event that prompted 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 vast combat experience gleaned from years of internal conflict, training on Nato equipment, and high-level combat training.

Reported Actions

In the conflict, the mercenaries have been accused of teaching minors, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and participated in direct battles. An individual involved was quoted as saying that working with child soldiers was "terrible and insane" but noted that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those penalized was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a individual with dual citizenship and ex-soldier located in the UAE. The government said he had a central role in hiring and sending mercenaries to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was similarly targeted.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who authorities say managed a business implicated in handling funds and payroll for the recruitment operation. "In 2024 and 2025, American entities linked to Duque conducted multiple financial transactions, worth millions," the government release noted.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the other individual to be targeted, with the firm she operated said to have conducted wire transfers connected to Duque and his businesses.

"The US once more urges outside forces to halt the flow of financial and military support to the combatants," the Treasury stated.

Analyst Commentary

An expert, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, labeled the measures as a "very significant" development, saying that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the correct approach".

She added that, Bogotá has enacted a piece of legislation approving the anti-mercenary convention, seeking to reduce years of participation by its nationals in overseas wars and change domestic defense strategy.

Another expert, an expert on mercenaries, called for greater wariness, saying that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for addressing the growing mercenary trade".

"It operates in the black market and operating from the Emirates, which is difficult to penalize," he said. The Emirati government has been widely accused of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, an accusation it has denied. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," he advised.