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The United States has levied restrictions on a group of several persons and entities charged of hiring Colombian mercenaries to combat alongside and instruct a Sudanese paramilitary group which the US alleges of genocidal acts.

Network Composition

Announcing the restrictions on Tuesday, the Treasury stated the scheme was primarily made up of Colombian citizens and firms.

Numerous of former Colombian military personnel have been recruited to go to the Sudanese warzone to fight alongside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a force implicated in severe violations such as targeted ethnic killings and large-scale abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The participation of ex-soldiers first came to light in 2024, after an inquiry which found that more than 300 ex-military personnel had been hired to engage in combat – an event that resulted in an unprecedented apology from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

Former Colombian military have widely regarded as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their vast combat experience resulting from a long-running domestic war, knowledge of Western military gear, and superior tactical education.

Activities in Sudan

In the Sudanese theater, the mercenaries have reportedly trained minors, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and fought directly on the frontlines. One source remarked that instructing minors was "horrific and irrational" but commented that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Targeted Persons

Among those penalized was a dual national, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and ex-soldier located in the UAE. The Treasury said he had a central role in recruiting and deploying former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was similarly targeted.

Also on the restricted list was Duque Botero, a dual national who the Treasury stated managed a business implicated in handling funds and payroll for the scheme. "Recently, US-based firms connected to Duque carried out numerous wire transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the government release noted.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz was the final person to be targeted, with the entity she oversaw said to have conducted financial transactions connected to Duque and his operations.

"The United States again calls on external actors to stop giving financial and military support to the belligerents," the Treasury stated.

Analyst Commentary

A senior analyst, from a conflict think tank, labeled the actions as a "major" step, noting that "targeting the enablers is the right way to go".

It was also noted that, Colombia ratified a statute endorsing the global treaty against mercenarism, seeking to reduce its citizens' long history in foreign conflicts and transform domestic defense strategy.

A mercenary specialist, a scholar on the subject, called for greater wariness, saying that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for addressing widespread use of contractors".

"It operates in the black market and based out of the UAE, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he said. The Emirati government has been widely accused of arming the RSF, allegations it disputes. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," the expert cautioned.