The Washington has levied restrictions on a network of several persons and entities accused of enlisting South American contractors to fight for and train a armed faction in Sudan that Washington accuses of genocidal acts.
Revealing the restrictions on Tuesday, the Treasury stated the scheme was largely composed of Colombian citizens and firms.
Hundreds of retired Colombian troops have reportedly travelled to Sudan to operate with the RSF paramilitary group, a force linked to severe violations such as ethnically targeted slaughter and widespread kidnappings.
The participation of ex-soldiers was first uncovered in 2024, following an inquiry which disclosed that hundreds of ex-military personnel had been recruited to participate in the war – an revelation that resulted in an unusual statement of regret from the Colombian government.
Colombian ex-soldiers have widely regarded as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their vast combat experience resulting from a long-running domestic war, knowledge of Western military gear, and high-level combat training.
In the Sudanese theater, the mercenaries have reportedly trained underage fighters, provided drone warfare training, and engaged in frontline combat. One source previously stated that working with child soldiers was "awful and crazy" but commented that "regrettably, war operates that way".
Among those targeted was a dual national, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and ex-soldier based in the Dubai. The US authorities accused him a pivotal function in hiring and sending former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was penalized as well.
Also on the restricted list was Mateo Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who officials alleged ran a firm accused of managing finances and payments for the scheme. "In 2024 and 2025, American entities connected to Duque carried out numerous wire transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the official announcement stated.
Colombian national Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the final person to be sanctioned, with the company she managed said to have conducted financial transactions connected to Duque and his businesses.
"Washington reiterates its demand for foreign parties to stop giving funding and arms to the warring parties," the Treasury stated.
An expert, from a conflict think tank, described the measures as a "major" development, saying that "targeting the enablers is the right way to go".
It was also noted that, the Colombian government recently passed a law approving the anti-mercenary convention, aiming to curb decades of Colombian involvement in overseas wars and change national security policy.
Another expert, a scholar on the subject, called for greater wariness, noting that "restrictions are needed but not enough for dealing with the growing mercenary trade".
"It operates in the black market and centered in the Emirates, which is difficult to penalize," he stated. The Emirati government has been widely accused of arming the RSF, claims it rejects. "This trend will probably continue," the expert cautioned.
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