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The US government has imposed sanctions on a network of several persons and entities charged of hiring former Colombian soldiers to fight for and train a Sudanese paramilitary group the United States claims of genocidal acts.

Operation Structure

Disclosing the restrictions on Tuesday, the American treasury stated the network was mostly comprised of Colombian nationals and companies.

Hundreds of former Colombian military personnel have been recruited to go to Sudan to combat beside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a faction linked to severe violations encompassing targeted ethnic killings and mass abductions.

Revelation of Role

The role of these mercenaries was first uncovered in 2024, following an report which disclosed that hundreds of ex-military personnel had been recruited to participate in the war – an event that prompted an rare mea culpa from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

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, knowledge of Western military gear, and high-level combat training.

Activities in Sudan

In the conflict, the Colombians have allegedly instructed child soldiers, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and fought directly on the frontlines. An individual involved remarked that instructing minors was "awful and crazy" but commented that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those sanctioned was a dual national, a individual with dual citizenship and ex-soldier based in the United Arab Emirates. The government said he had a key part in enlisting and transporting mercenaries to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was similarly targeted.

Also on the penalty list was Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who the Treasury stated managed a business implicated in processing money and salaries for the scheme. "Over the past two years, American entities linked to Duque engaged in multiple financial transactions, totalling millions of US dollars," the official announcement stated.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the other individual to be sanctioned, with the firm she operated alleged to have money transfers linked to Duque and his businesses.

"Washington reiterates its demand for external actors to stop giving funding and arms to the combatants," the agency stated.

Reaction

Elizabeth Dickinson, from a conflict think tank, described the sanctions as a "major" development, stating that "targeting the enablers is the right way to go".

It was also noted that, the Colombian government ratified a statute approving the anti-mercenary convention, aiming to curb years of participation by its nationals in foreign conflicts and change domestic defense strategy.

Sean McFate, an expert on mercenaries, advised additional measures, noting that "penalties are required yet incomplete for dealing with widespread use of contractors".

"It’s an illicit economy and based out of Dubai, which is relatively sanction-proof," he said. The Emirati government has been frequently alleged of providing arms to the militia, an accusation it has denied. "This trend will probably continue," McFate warned.