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The United States has levied restrictions on a operation of four people and four firms accused of hiring Colombian mercenaries to fight for and train a militia force in Sudan the United States claims of committing genocide.

Group Makeup

Disclosing the restrictions on Tuesday, the American treasury stated the scheme was mostly comprised of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Scores of ex-soldiers from Colombia have reportedly travelled to Sudan to operate with the Sudanese RSF militia, a group accused of severe violations including ethnically targeted slaughter and widespread kidnappings.

Revelation of Role

The participation of ex-soldiers initially emerged the previous year, following an report which revealed that hundreds of former soldiers had been recruited to engage in combat – an discovery that resulted in an unusual statement of regret from officials in Bogotá.

Colombian ex-soldiers have historically been seen as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their extensive battlefield experience acquired during decades of civil war, knowledge of Nato equipment, and superior tactical education.

Role in the Conflict

In Sudan, the mercenaries have reportedly trained underage fighters, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and fought directly on the frontlines. One source was quoted as saying that working with child soldiers was "horrific and irrational" but commented that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those sanctioned was a retired Colombian officer, a dual Colombian-Italian national and ex-soldier operating from the United Arab Emirates. The US authorities said he had a pivotal function in hiring and sending mercenaries to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was similarly targeted.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who authorities say oversaw a company implicated in managing finances and payments for the scheme. "In 2024 and 2025, companies in the United States connected to Duque carried out several money transfers, amounting to millions," the government release noted.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the other individual to be penalized, with the company she managed said to have conducted money transfers connected to Duque and his operations.

"Washington reiterates its demand for foreign parties to cease providing funding and arms to the warring parties," the department announced.

Analyst Commentary

A senior analyst, with the International Crisis Group, called the actions as a "major" development, saying that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the right way to go".

Furthermore, Bogotá recently passed a piece of legislation approving the anti-mercenary convention, designed to limit decades of Colombian involvement in international fights and reshape national security policy.

A mercenary specialist, a scholar on the subject, called for greater wariness, stating that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for dealing with rampant mercenarism".

"It operates in the black market and based out of the UAE, which is relatively sanction-proof," he commented. The Emirati government has been frequently alleged of providing arms to the militia, claims it rejects. "This trend will probably continue," McFate warned.