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The United States has imposed sanctions on a group of four people and four firms charged of recruiting former Colombian soldiers to support and educate a militia force in Sudan the United States claims of acts of genocide.

Operation Structure

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

Numerous of retired Colombian troops have allegedly journeyed to the Sudanese warzone to fight alongside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a force implicated in terrible atrocities such as targeted ethnic killings and widespread kidnappings.

Revelation of Role

The participation of ex-soldiers first came to light the previous year, prompted by an investigation which revealed that more than 300 retired troops had been recruited to fight – an revelation that prompted an unusual statement of regret from the Colombian government.

Colombian ex-soldiers have historically been seen as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their extensive battlefield experience resulting from decades of civil war, familiarity with advanced weaponry, and high-level combat training.

Reported Actions

In the Sudanese theater, the contractors have been accused of teaching minors, provided drone warfare training, and engaged in frontline combat. A mercenary remarked that instructing minors was "terrible and insane" but added that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Targeted Persons

Among those sanctioned was a retired Colombian officer, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and retired Colombian military officer operating from the United Arab Emirates. The US authorities said he had a key part in enlisting and transporting mercenaries to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was similarly targeted.

Also on the penalty list was Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who authorities say oversaw a company linked to handling funds and payroll for the recruitment operation. "In 2024 and 2025, companies in the United States associated with Duque carried out multiple financial transactions, worth millions," the Treasury statement said.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the fourth individual to be sanctioned, with the company she managed said to have conducted financial transactions connected to Duque and his companies.

"The US once more urges outside forces to stop giving monetary and weaponry aid to the warring parties," the agency stated.

Analyst Commentary

A senior analyst, with the International Crisis Group, called the measures as a "very significant" development, noting that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the proper strategy".

She added that, the Colombian government ratified a piece of legislation ratifying the anti-mercenary convention, aiming to curb years of participation by its nationals in international fights and reshape national security policy.

Another expert, a scholar on the subject, advised additional measures, saying that "restrictions are needed but not enough for addressing rampant mercenarism".

"It operates in the black market and based out of the UAE, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he said. The Emirati government has been repeatedly implicated of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, an accusation it has denied. "This trend will probably continue," McFate warned.