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The US government has imposed sanctions on a group of several persons and entities accused of enlisting Colombian mercenaries to combat alongside and instruct a militia force in Sudan that Washington accuses of acts of genocide.

Group Makeup

Disclosing the sanctions on this week, the Treasury stated the scheme was mostly comprised of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Numerous of former Colombian military personnel have reportedly travelled to the Sudanese warzone to fight alongside the RSF paramilitary group, a group linked to severe violations encompassing ethnically targeted slaughter and large-scale abductions.

Revelation of Role

The role of these mercenaries was first uncovered last year, prompted by an report which revealed that more than 300 former soldiers had been contracted to fight – an discovery that resulted in an unprecedented apology from officials in Bogotá.

Former Colombian military have long been considered as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their extensive battlefield experience resulting from years of internal conflict, familiarity with Nato equipment, and elite military instruction.

Activities in Sudan

In the Sudanese theater, the mercenaries have reportedly trained minors, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and participated in direct battles. An individual involved was quoted as saying that instructing minors was "terrible and insane" but commented that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Named Entities

Among those sanctioned was a dual national, a individual with dual citizenship and retired Colombian military officer located in the Dubai. The government accused him a pivotal function in enlisting and transporting former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was also sanctioned.

Also on the sanctions list was Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who officials alleged oversaw a company implicated in handling funds and payroll for the scheme. "In 2024 and 2025, American entities linked to Duque carried out several money transfers, amounting to millions," the government release said.

Individual Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the final person to be penalized, with the company she managed accused of financial transactions linked to Duque and his operations.

"The US once more urges foreign parties to stop giving financial and military support to the warring parties," the Treasury stated.

Analyst Commentary

An expert, with the International Crisis Group, labeled the sanctions as a "very significant" step, noting that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the correct approach".

Furthermore, Colombia has enacted a statute ratifying the anti-mercenary convention, aiming to curb years of participation by its nationals in overseas wars and transform its security approach.

Another expert, an expert on mercenaries, urged more caution, stating that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for combating widespread use of contractors".

"This is a shadow economy and based out of Dubai, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he commented. The Emirati government has been frequently alleged of arming the RSF, allegations it disputes. "This trend will probably continue," McFate warned.