🔗 Share this article

The United States has levied restrictions on a group of four people and four firms charged of enlisting Colombian mercenaries to fight for and train a armed faction in Sudan the United States claims of committing genocide.

Network Composition

Revealing the sanctions on this week, the American treasury stated the operation was primarily made up of Colombian nationals and companies.

Numerous of retired Colombian troops have reportedly travelled to the Sudanese warzone to operate with the Sudanese RSF militia, a group linked to horrific war crimes encompassing targeted ethnic killings and mass abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The participation of ex-soldiers initially emerged the previous year, following an investigation which disclosed that over three hundred retired troops had been hired to fight – an discovery that led to an rare mea culpa from the Colombian government.

Colombian ex-soldiers have widely regarded as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their considerable warzone knowledge acquired during decades of civil war, training on Western military gear, and elite military instruction.

Activities in Sudan

In the conflict, the Colombians have been accused of teaching minors, taught fighters to pilot drones, and participated in direct battles. A mercenary was quoted as saying that working with child soldiers was "horrific and irrational" but commented that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Named Entities

Among those targeted was a dual national, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and ex-soldier based in the United Arab Emirates. The Treasury accused him a key part in recruiting and deploying ex-military personnel to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was penalized as well.

Also on the restricted list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who the Treasury stated ran a firm implicated in managing finances and payments for the network. "In 2024 and 2025, US-based firms linked to Duque conducted multiple financial transactions, amounting to millions," the official announcement noted.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz was the final person to be penalized, with the entity she oversaw alleged to have financial transactions connected to Duque and his companies.

"The US once more urges external actors to cease providing funding and arms to the belligerents," the department said in a statement.

Reaction

A senior analyst, with the International Crisis Group, labeled the measures as a "major" milestone, stating that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the proper strategy".

Furthermore, the Colombian government has enacted a law ratifying the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, aiming to curb its citizens' long history in foreign conflicts and transform national security policy.

Sean McFate, a scholar on the subject, advised additional measures, saying that "restrictions are needed but not enough for addressing widespread use of contractors".

"It operates in the black market and operating from the UAE, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he said. The United Arab Emirates has been widely accused of providing arms to the militia, allegations it disputes. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," he advised.