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The US government has imposed sanctions on a group of several persons and entities alleged of recruiting former Colombian soldiers to combat alongside and instruct a Sudanese paramilitary group which the US alleges of acts of genocide.

Network Composition

Disclosing the measures on Tuesday, the American treasury stated the scheme was largely composed of Colombian citizens and firms.

Hundreds of former Colombian military personnel have been recruited to go to Sudan to combat beside the Sudanese RSF militia, a group linked to horrific war crimes including targeted ethnic killings and large-scale abductions.

Discovery of Participation

The participation of ex-soldiers first came to light in 2024, following an inquiry which revealed that more than 300 retired troops had been contracted to engage in combat – an discovery that resulted in an rare mea culpa from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

Former Colombian military have long been considered as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their extensive battlefield experience gleaned from years of internal conflict, training on Nato equipment, and high-level combat training.

Reported Actions

In the Sudanese theater, the mercenaries have been accused of teaching underage fighters, taught fighters to pilot drones, and engaged in frontline combat. One source remarked that working with child soldiers was "horrific and irrational" but commented that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those penalized was a dual national, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and retired Colombian military officer operating from the UAE. The US authorities said he had a pivotal function in enlisting and transporting mercenaries to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was similarly targeted.

Also on the restricted list was Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who officials alleged managed a business accused of managing finances and payments for the recruitment operation. "Over the past two years, companies in the United States connected to Duque carried out numerous wire transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the Treasury statement said.

Individual Mónica Muñoz was the fourth individual to be sanctioned, with the firm she operated alleged to have wire transfers linked to Duque and his businesses.

"Washington reiterates its demand for outside forces to halt the flow of financial and military support to the combatants," the agency announced.

Analyst Commentary

An expert, from a conflict think tank, called the actions as a "very significant" milestone, saying that "identifying the recruiters is the proper strategy".

It was also noted that, Colombia has enacted a law approving the anti-mercenary convention, designed to limit decades of Colombian involvement in international fights and reshape its security approach.

A mercenary specialist, a authority on private military contractors, called for greater wariness, stating that "restrictions are needed but not enough for dealing with widespread use of contractors".

"It’s an illicit economy and operating from the Emirates, which is difficult to penalize," he commented. The United Arab Emirates has been widely accused of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, an accusation it has denied. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," he advised.