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The US government has enforced penalties on a operation of four people and four firms alleged of hiring former Colombian soldiers to combat alongside and instruct a militia force in Sudan that Washington accuses of acts of genocide.

Network Composition

Announcing the restrictions on Tuesday, the US Treasury Department stated the scheme was mostly comprised of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Scores of ex-soldiers from Colombia have allegedly journeyed to Sudan to operate with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a faction linked to severe violations including ethnically targeted slaughter and widespread kidnappings.

Discovery of Participation

The participation of ex-soldiers first came to light in 2024, following an report which found that hundreds of ex-military personnel had been recruited to participate in the war – an event that resulted in an rare mea culpa from the Colombian government.

These South American veterans have historically been seen as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their vast combat experience resulting from a long-running domestic war, familiarity with Nato equipment, and elite military instruction.

Role in the Conflict

In the Sudanese theater, the Colombians have allegedly instructed underage fighters, taught fighters to pilot drones, and participated in direct battles. A mercenary previously stated that training children was "awful and crazy" but commented that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Named Entities

Among those sanctioned was a dual national, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and retired Colombian military officer located in the United Arab Emirates. The US authorities said he had a central role in enlisting and transporting mercenaries to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was also sanctioned.

Also on the restricted list was Mateo Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who authorities say oversaw a company implicated in managing finances and payments for the recruitment operation. "Over the past two years, American entities associated with Duque engaged in several money transfers, worth millions," the Treasury statement said.

Individual Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the final person to be sanctioned, with the company she managed said to have conducted financial transactions associated with Duque and his companies.

"The United States again calls on foreign parties to cease providing monetary and weaponry aid to the combatants," the department said in a statement.

Reaction

A senior analyst, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, labeled the measures as a "highly important" step, saying that "identifying the recruiters is the right way to go".

It was also noted that, Colombia ratified a law endorsing the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, designed to limit its citizens' long history in foreign conflicts and reshape its security approach.

Sean McFate, an expert on mercenaries, advised additional measures, stating that "restrictions are needed but not enough for addressing rampant mercenarism".

"It’s an illicit economy and based out of Dubai, which is difficult to penalize," he said. The UAE has been widely accused of arming the RSF, allegations it disputes. "This trend will probably continue," he advised.