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The United States has enforced penalties on a operation of several persons and entities alleged of recruiting former Colombian soldiers to combat alongside and instruct a militia force in Sudan the United States claims of committing genocide.

Operation Structure

Disclosing the restrictions on Tuesday, the US Treasury Department stated the operation was primarily made up of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Numerous of retired Colombian troops have reportedly travelled to the conflict in Sudan to operate with the Sudanese RSF militia, a group linked to terrible atrocities encompassing ethnically targeted slaughter and widespread kidnappings.

Discovery of Participation

The involvement of Colombian fighters was first uncovered last year, prompted by an inquiry which disclosed that hundreds of ex-military personnel had been contracted to engage in combat – an discovery that resulted in an unusual statement of regret from officials in Bogotá.

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

Reported Actions

In the Sudanese theater, the contractors have allegedly instructed minors, taught fighters to pilot drones, and participated in direct battles. One source previously stated that working with child soldiers was "awful and crazy" but noted that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Targeted Persons

Among those penalized was a retired Colombian officer, a dual Colombian-Italian national and ex-soldier operating from the UAE. The government accused him a pivotal function in recruiting and deploying ex-military personnel to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was penalized as well.

Also on the restricted list was Mateo Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who officials alleged ran a firm accused of managing finances and payments for the network. "In 2024 and 2025, US-based firms associated with Duque engaged in several money transfers, worth millions," the official announcement noted.

Individual Mónica Muñoz was the other individual to be sanctioned, with the entity she oversaw accused of wire transfers linked to Duque and his companies.

"The United States again calls on outside forces to halt the flow of monetary and weaponry aid to the combatants," the Treasury announced.

Reaction

An expert, from a conflict think tank, described the measures as a "major" milestone, saying that "identifying the recruiters is the right way to go".

She added that, the Colombian government ratified a statute approving the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, seeking to reduce decades of Colombian involvement in overseas wars and transform its security approach.

A mercenary specialist, a authority on private military contractors, called for greater wariness, noting that "penalties are required yet incomplete for dealing with rampant mercenarism".

"This is a shadow economy and based out of the UAE, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he said. The United Arab Emirates has been frequently alleged of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, an accusation it has denied. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," he advised.