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The US government has enforced penalties on a operation of several persons and entities accused of hiring Colombian mercenaries to support and educate a militia force in Sudan that Washington accuses of genocidal acts.

Operation Structure

Announcing the measures on Tuesday, the US Treasury Department stated the operation was primarily made up of Colombian citizens and firms.

Numerous of former Colombian military personnel have allegedly journeyed to the conflict in Sudan to combat beside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a group linked to terrible atrocities encompassing ethnically targeted slaughter and mass abductions.

Discovery of Participation

The involvement of Colombian fighters first came to light last year, prompted by an investigation which revealed that more than 300 former soldiers had been recruited to engage in combat – an event that resulted in an rare mea culpa from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

These South American veterans have long been considered as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their vast combat experience acquired during decades of civil war, training on Nato equipment, and elite military instruction.

Role in the Conflict

In the conflict, the contractors have been accused of teaching underage fighters, provided drone warfare training, and fought directly on the frontlines. One source previously stated that working with child soldiers was "horrific and irrational" but commented that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Named Entities

Among those penalized was a dual national, a dual Colombian-Italian national and retired Colombian military officer operating from the Dubai. The government alleged he played a central role in hiring and sending mercenaries to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was penalized as well.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual national who officials alleged oversaw a company implicated in managing finances and payments for the network. "In 2024 and 2025, companies in the United States associated with Duque engaged in numerous wire transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the official announcement said.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz was the final person to be targeted, with the firm she operated said to have conducted money transfers connected to Duque and his businesses.

"Washington reiterates its demand for external actors to cease providing financial and military support to the warring parties," the agency stated.

Reaction

Elizabeth Dickinson, with the International Crisis Group, described the measures as a "highly important" milestone, saying that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the correct approach".

It was also noted that, Colombia recently passed a statute endorsing the anti-mercenary convention, seeking to reduce its citizens' long history in foreign conflicts and transform national security policy.

Sean McFate, an expert on mercenaries, called for greater wariness, noting that "penalties are required yet incomplete for dealing with widespread use of contractors".

"It’s an illicit economy and based out of the UAE, which is relatively sanction-proof," he commented. The United Arab Emirates has been widely accused of providing arms to the militia, claims it rejects. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," the expert cautioned.