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The Washington has imposed sanctions on a operation of four people and four firms accused of hiring former Colombian soldiers to support and educate a militia force in Sudan the United States claims of genocidal acts.

Operation Structure

Disclosing the measures on Tuesday, the American treasury stated the operation was primarily made up of Colombian citizens and firms.

Scores of former Colombian military personnel have reportedly travelled to Sudan to combat beside the RSF paramilitary group, a faction accused of severe violations encompassing targeted ethnic killings and widespread kidnappings.

Revelation of Role

The participation of ex-soldiers first came to light in 2024, after an investigation which disclosed that over three hundred ex-military personnel had been hired to engage in combat – an discovery that led to an rare mea culpa from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

Former Colombian military have historically been seen as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their considerable warzone knowledge resulting from years of internal conflict, training on Western military gear, and high-level combat training.

Role in the Conflict

In the conflict, the mercenaries have allegedly instructed minors, taught fighters to pilot drones, and participated in direct battles. An individual involved previously stated that instructing minors was "horrific and irrational" but commented that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Named Entities

Among those sanctioned was a dual national, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and ex-soldier operating from the UAE. The US authorities said he had a central role in recruiting and deploying former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was penalized as well.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Duque Botero, a dual national who authorities say ran a firm accused of managing finances and payments for the scheme. "Over the past two years, American entities associated with Duque carried out multiple financial transactions, amounting to millions," the government release noted.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz was the final person to be sanctioned, with the company she managed alleged to have wire transfers linked to Duque and his businesses.

"The US once more urges external actors to halt the flow of monetary and weaponry aid to the combatants," the department announced.

Analyst Commentary

A senior analyst, with the International Crisis Group, labeled the sanctions as a "highly important" milestone, noting that "targeting the enablers is the proper strategy".

She added that, Bogotá has enacted a statute approving the global treaty against mercenarism, aiming to curb its citizens' long history in overseas wars and change its security approach.

Sean McFate, a scholar on the subject, advised additional measures, noting that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for addressing rampant mercenarism".

"This is a shadow economy and centered in Dubai, which is difficult to penalize," 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.