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The United States has enforced penalties on a group of several persons and entities alleged of hiring Colombian mercenaries to fight for and train a militia force in Sudan which the US alleges of committing genocide.

Group Makeup

Announcing the measures on this week, the US Treasury Department stated the scheme was primarily made up of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Scores of ex-soldiers from Colombia have been recruited to go to the Sudanese warzone to operate with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a force linked to severe violations encompassing targeted ethnic killings and widespread kidnappings.

Discovery of Participation

The involvement of Colombian fighters first came to light in 2024, prompted by an investigation which revealed that over three hundred retired troops had been recruited to fight – an discovery that prompted an rare mea culpa from officials in Bogotá.

Colombian ex-soldiers have widely regarded as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their considerable warzone knowledge gleaned from a long-running domestic war, training on Western military gear, and elite military instruction.

Reported Actions

In the Sudanese theater, the contractors have been accused of teaching underage fighters, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and fought directly on the frontlines. An individual involved previously stated that working with child soldiers was "horrific and irrational" but noted that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Named Entities

Among those penalized was a retired Colombian officer, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and retired Colombian military officer located in the Dubai. The Treasury alleged he played a key part in hiring and sending former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was penalized as well.

Also on the penalty list was Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who authorities say ran a firm linked to processing money and salaries for the network. "Over the past two years, US-based firms connected to Duque conducted multiple financial transactions, totalling millions of US dollars," the Treasury statement said.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the final person to be penalized, with the entity she oversaw alleged to have wire transfers connected to Duque and his operations.

"Washington reiterates its demand for foreign parties to halt the flow of financial and military support to the belligerents," the department stated.

Reaction

A senior analyst, with the International Crisis Group, labeled the sanctions as a "major" development, noting that "targeting the enablers is the right way to go".

She added that, the Colombian government has enacted a piece of legislation endorsing the anti-mercenary convention, aiming to curb decades of Colombian involvement in overseas wars and change domestic defense strategy.

Sean McFate, a authority on private military contractors, advised additional measures, stating that "restrictions are needed but not enough for dealing with the growing mercenary trade".

"This is a shadow economy and operating from the Emirates, which is difficult to penalize," he commented. The United Arab Emirates has been widely accused of arming the RSF, claims it rejects. "This trend will probably continue," the expert cautioned.