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The United States has levied restrictions on a network of four people and four firms accused of enlisting former Colombian soldiers to fight for and train a armed faction in Sudan that Washington accuses of genocidal acts.

Network Composition

Announcing the restrictions on this week, the Treasury stated the scheme was largely composed of Colombian nationals and companies.

Hundreds of ex-soldiers from Colombia have reportedly travelled to the conflict in Sudan to fight alongside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a force accused of terrible atrocities such as ethnically targeted slaughter and large-scale abductions.

Revelation of Role

The participation of ex-soldiers first came to light in 2024, after an report which disclosed that over three hundred former soldiers had been recruited to participate in the war – an discovery that resulted in an rare mea culpa from officials in Bogotá.

Former Colombian military have historically been seen as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their considerable warzone knowledge acquired during decades of civil war, familiarity with Nato equipment, and high-level combat training.

Role in the Conflict

In Sudan, the mercenaries have allegedly instructed minors, provided drone warfare training, and engaged in frontline combat. One source previously stated that training children was "awful and crazy" but commented that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those penalized was a retired Colombian officer, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and ex-soldier based in the UAE. The Treasury accused him a key part in recruiting and deploying mercenaries to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was also sanctioned.

Also on the sanctions list was Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who the Treasury stated oversaw a company accused of handling funds and payroll for the scheme. "Recently, companies in the United States connected to Duque conducted several money transfers, worth millions," the Treasury statement said.

Individual Mónica Muñoz was the other individual to be targeted, with the firm she operated alleged to have wire transfers connected to Duque and his companies.

"The United States again calls on external actors to halt the flow of financial and military support to the warring parties," the agency announced.

Reaction

An expert, with the International Crisis Group, labeled the measures as a "major" step, saying that "targeting the enablers is the right way to go".

Furthermore, the Colombian government recently passed a law approving the global treaty against mercenarism, designed to limit its citizens' long history in overseas wars and reshape national security policy.

Sean McFate, a authority on private military contractors, urged more caution, stating that "restrictions are needed but not enough for combating widespread use of contractors".

"This is a shadow economy and centered in the UAE, which is relatively sanction-proof," he commented. The Emirati government has been widely accused of providing arms to the militia, an accusation it has denied. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," he advised.