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The United States has imposed sanctions on a network of four individuals and four companies alleged of hiring former Colombian soldiers to combat alongside and instruct a armed faction in Sudan which the US alleges of committing genocide.

Network Composition

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

Scores of ex-soldiers from Colombia have reportedly travelled to Sudan to operate with the RSF paramilitary group, a force linked to severe violations including massacres based on ethnicity and mass abductions.

Discovery of Participation

The participation of ex-soldiers was first uncovered in 2024, after an investigation which found that hundreds of former soldiers had been hired to participate in the war – an event that prompted an unusual statement of regret from officials in Bogotá.

Former Colombian military have historically been seen as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their extensive battlefield experience gleaned from decades of civil war, familiarity with Nato equipment, and superior tactical education.

Role in the Conflict

In the Sudanese theater, the mercenaries have reportedly trained child soldiers, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and engaged in frontline combat. One source previously stated that training children was "horrific and irrational" but commented that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Named Entities

Among those penalized was a retired Colombian officer, a dual Colombian-Italian national and former army officer operating from the United Arab Emirates. The Treasury accused him a pivotal function in hiring and sending mercenaries to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was similarly targeted.

Also on the restricted list was Duque Botero, a dual national who the Treasury stated oversaw a company linked to processing money and salaries for the recruitment operation. "Over the past two years, American entities associated with Duque conducted numerous wire transfers, worth millions," the government release said.

Individual Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the final person to be penalized, with the firm she operated accused of money transfers connected to Duque and his companies.

"The US once more urges outside forces to cease providing funding and arms to the belligerents," the department announced.

Analyst Commentary

A senior analyst, with the International Crisis Group, called the actions as a "highly important" milestone, stating that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the correct approach".

It was also noted that, Colombia recently passed a law approving the global treaty against mercenarism, aiming to curb decades of Colombian involvement in international fights and change domestic defense strategy.

Sean McFate, an expert on mercenaries, urged more caution, noting that "penalties are required yet incomplete for addressing rampant mercenarism".

"This is a shadow economy and based out of Dubai, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he stated. The United Arab Emirates has been repeatedly implicated of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, allegations it disputes. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," the expert cautioned.