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The United States has imposed sanctions on a group of four people and four firms charged of enlisting former Colombian soldiers to combat alongside and instruct a militia force in Sudan which the US alleges of genocidal acts.

Group Makeup

Disclosing the measures on this week, the Treasury stated the scheme was primarily made up of Colombian nationals and companies.

Hundreds of retired Colombian troops have been recruited to go to Sudan to operate with the Sudanese RSF militia, a faction accused of terrible atrocities such as massacres based on ethnicity and large-scale abductions.

Discovery of Participation

The participation of ex-soldiers first came to light in 2024, after an investigation which disclosed that over three hundred ex-military personnel had been hired to participate in the war – an event that prompted an rare mea culpa from officials in Bogotá.

Colombian ex-soldiers have widely regarded as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their considerable warzone knowledge acquired during a long-running domestic war, training on Nato equipment, and superior tactical education.

Activities in Sudan

In the Sudanese theater, the contractors have allegedly instructed underage fighters, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and participated in direct battles. An individual involved was quoted as saying that working with child soldiers was "awful and crazy" but noted that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those penalized was a retired Colombian officer, a dual Colombian-Italian national and retired Colombian military officer located in the UAE. The government said he had a central role in enlisting and transporting mercenaries to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was also sanctioned.

Also on the penalty list was Duque Botero, a dual national who officials alleged ran a firm linked to handling funds and payroll for the recruitment operation. "Recently, companies in the United States associated with Duque engaged in several money transfers, worth millions," the official announcement noted.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz was the final person to be targeted, with the company she managed alleged to have financial transactions linked to Duque and his companies.

"Washington reiterates its demand for external actors to cease providing financial and military support to the warring parties," the department said in a statement.

Reaction

Elizabeth Dickinson, from a conflict think tank, labeled the measures as a "highly important" step, stating that "targeting the enablers is the proper strategy".

Furthermore, Bogotá recently passed a piece of legislation approving the global treaty against mercenarism, aiming to curb decades of Colombian involvement in overseas wars and reshape domestic defense strategy.

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".

"It operates in the black market and operating from the Emirates, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he said. The UAE has been frequently alleged of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, an accusation it has denied. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," McFate warned.