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

Operation Structure

Announcing the measures on this week, the Treasury stated the network was largely composed of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Numerous of former Colombian military personnel have reportedly travelled to Sudan to fight alongside the Sudanese RSF militia, a faction implicated in horrific war crimes encompassing ethnically targeted slaughter and mass abductions.

Discovery of Participation

The participation of ex-soldiers was first uncovered in 2024, prompted by an report which revealed that more than 300 ex-military personnel had been recruited to fight – an event that resulted in an rare mea culpa from officials in Bogotá.

Colombian ex-soldiers have long been considered as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their considerable warzone knowledge acquired during a long-running domestic war, familiarity with advanced weaponry, and superior tactical education.

Reported Actions

In Sudan, the Colombians have reportedly trained minors, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and participated in direct battles. One source previously stated that instructing minors was "awful and crazy" but commented that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Named Entities

Among those penalized was a dual national, a dual Colombian-Italian national and former army officer based in the Dubai. The Treasury said he had a key part in recruiting and deploying mercenaries to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was also sanctioned.

Also on the restricted list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who officials alleged ran a firm linked to managing finances and payments for the scheme. "Over the past two years, US-based firms linked to Duque conducted several money transfers, worth millions," the official announcement noted.

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

"The US once more urges foreign parties to cease providing financial and military support to the warring parties," the Treasury stated.

Analyst Commentary

Elizabeth Dickinson, with the International Crisis Group, called the actions as a "major" milestone, noting that "identifying the recruiters is the correct approach".

It was also noted that, Bogotá has enacted a piece of legislation endorsing the global treaty against mercenarism, seeking to reduce years of participation by its nationals in foreign conflicts and transform its security approach.

Sean McFate, a authority on private military contractors, urged more caution, saying that "penalties are required yet incomplete for addressing widespread use of contractors".

"This is a shadow economy and operating from the Emirates, which is relatively sanction-proof," he said. The United Arab Emirates has been repeatedly implicated of arming the RSF, allegations it disputes. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," McFate warned.