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The United States has enforced penalties on a group of several persons and entities charged of recruiting former Colombian soldiers to combat alongside and instruct a Sudanese paramilitary group that Washington accuses of genocidal acts.

Group Makeup

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

Scores of former Colombian military personnel have allegedly journeyed to the Sudanese warzone to fight alongside the Sudanese RSF militia, a force implicated in terrible atrocities such as massacres based on ethnicity and widespread kidnappings.

Revelation of Role

The participation of ex-soldiers was first uncovered the previous year, prompted by an inquiry which found that over three hundred retired troops had been contracted to fight – an event that prompted an unusual statement of regret from officials in Bogotá.

Colombian ex-soldiers have historically been seen as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their vast combat experience gleaned from a long-running domestic war, knowledge of Western military gear, and high-level combat training.

Reported Actions

In the conflict, the mercenaries have reportedly trained minors, provided drone warfare training, and participated in direct battles. One source previously stated that training children was "awful and crazy" but added that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Targeted Persons

Among those sanctioned was a retired Colombian officer, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and ex-soldier located in the Dubai. The government accused him a key part in hiring and sending ex-military personnel to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was similarly targeted.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who the Treasury stated ran a firm implicated in handling funds and payroll for the network. "In 2024 and 2025, American entities associated with Duque carried out multiple financial transactions, totalling millions of US dollars," the government release said.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the final person to be targeted, with the entity she oversaw said to have conducted wire transfers associated with Duque and his operations.

"Washington reiterates its demand for outside forces to stop giving monetary and weaponry aid to the belligerents," the department announced.

Reaction

A senior analyst, from a conflict think tank, called the sanctions as a "highly important" milestone, stating that "targeting the enablers is the right way to go".

She added that, Colombia has enacted a law approving the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, aiming to curb its citizens' long history in foreign conflicts and transform its security approach.

Sean McFate, an expert on mercenaries, urged more caution, noting that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for combating widespread use of contractors".

"It operates in the black market and based out of Dubai, which is relatively sanction-proof," he commented. The Emirati government has been repeatedly implicated of arming the RSF, allegations it disputes. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," he advised.