🔗 Share this article

The Washington has imposed sanctions on a operation of several persons and entities accused of recruiting South American contractors to fight for and train a Sudanese paramilitary group that Washington accuses of committing genocide.

Group Makeup

Disclosing the measures on Tuesday, the Treasury stated the network was primarily made up of Colombian citizens and firms.

Hundreds of former Colombian military personnel have reportedly travelled to the conflict in Sudan to combat beside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a faction accused of severe violations such as ethnically targeted slaughter and large-scale abductions.

Revelation of Role

The participation of ex-soldiers was first uncovered in 2024, prompted by an inquiry which found that more than 300 retired troops had been recruited to engage in combat – an event that prompted an unprecedented apology from the Colombian government.

These South American veterans have long been considered as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their considerable warzone knowledge gleaned from a long-running domestic war, knowledge of Nato equipment, and high-level combat training.

Activities in Sudan

In the Sudanese theater, the mercenaries have been accused of teaching minors, provided drone warfare training, and engaged in frontline combat. A mercenary remarked that training children was "terrible and insane" but noted that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Targeted Persons

Among those targeted was a retired Colombian officer, a dual Colombian-Italian national and former army officer operating from the Dubai. The government alleged he played a key part in enlisting and transporting former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was penalized as well.

Also on the restricted list was Duque Botero, a dual national who authorities say managed a business accused of handling funds and payroll for the scheme. "In 2024 and 2025, American entities connected to Duque engaged in multiple financial transactions, totalling millions of US dollars," the government release stated.

Individual Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the other individual to be targeted, with the entity she oversaw said to have conducted financial transactions connected to Duque and his operations.

"The US once more urges outside forces to halt the flow of monetary and weaponry aid to the belligerents," the agency stated.

Reaction

A senior analyst, with the International Crisis Group, called the actions as a "very significant" development, stating that "identifying the recruiters is the proper strategy".

It was also noted that, Colombia has enacted a statute ratifying the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, designed to limit its citizens' long history in international fights and change national security policy.

A mercenary specialist, a authority on private military contractors, called for greater wariness, stating that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for addressing rampant mercenarism".

"It’s an illicit economy and centered in the UAE, which is difficult to penalize," he stated. The Emirati government has been widely accused of providing arms to the militia, an accusation it has denied. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," McFate warned.