🔗 Share this article

The US government has enforced penalties on a group of several persons and entities charged of enlisting South American contractors to fight for and train a militia force in Sudan the United States claims of genocidal acts.

Operation Structure

Announcing the restrictions on Tuesday, the American treasury stated the operation was primarily made up of Colombian citizens and firms.

Numerous of ex-soldiers from Colombia have reportedly travelled to the Sudanese warzone to fight alongside the RSF paramilitary group, a force accused of terrible atrocities encompassing ethnically targeted slaughter and mass abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The role of these mercenaries initially emerged in 2024, following an report which revealed that hundreds of ex-military personnel had been contracted to participate in the war – an discovery that prompted an unprecedented apology from the Colombian government.

Former Colombian military have long been considered as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their vast combat experience acquired during a long-running domestic war, familiarity with advanced weaponry, and elite military instruction.

Activities in Sudan

In Sudan, the contractors have been accused of teaching minors, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and fought directly on the frontlines. A mercenary previously stated that training children was "horrific and irrational" but noted that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Targeted Persons

Among those sanctioned was a dual national, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and retired Colombian military officer based in the United Arab Emirates. The government said he had a central role in recruiting and deploying mercenaries to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was penalized as well.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who officials alleged ran a firm linked to processing money and salaries for the recruitment operation. "In 2024 and 2025, US-based firms connected to Duque conducted numerous wire transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the government release stated.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz was the other individual to be targeted, with the entity she oversaw said to have conducted money transfers connected to Duque and his businesses.

"The US once more urges outside forces to cease providing monetary and weaponry aid to the warring parties," the agency announced.

Reaction

An expert, from a conflict think tank, called the measures as a "very significant" step, stating that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the correct approach".

She added that, Bogotá recently passed a law endorsing the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, aiming to curb its citizens' long history in overseas wars and reshape national security policy.

A mercenary specialist, a authority on private military contractors, urged more caution, stating that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for combating widespread use of contractors".

"It’s an illicit economy and operating from the UAE, which is relatively sanction-proof," he stated. The United Arab Emirates has been widely accused of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, an accusation it has denied. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," the expert cautioned.