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The United States has levied restrictions on a group of several persons and entities alleged of hiring former Colombian soldiers to combat alongside and instruct a armed faction in Sudan that Washington accuses of acts of genocide.

Operation Structure

Disclosing the sanctions on Tuesday, the US Treasury Department stated the network was largely composed of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Scores of ex-soldiers from Colombia have allegedly journeyed to the conflict in Sudan to fight alongside the RSF paramilitary group, a group linked to severe violations including massacres based on ethnicity and widespread kidnappings.

Emergence of Involvement

The participation of ex-soldiers first came to light last year, prompted by an investigation which revealed that over three hundred ex-military personnel had been hired to engage in combat – an discovery that prompted an unusual statement of regret from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

These South American veterans have historically been seen as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their considerable warzone knowledge gleaned from a long-running domestic war, knowledge of Nato equipment, and superior tactical education.

Reported Actions

In Sudan, the mercenaries have reportedly trained minors, taught fighters to pilot drones, and fought directly on the frontlines. A mercenary remarked that instructing minors was "horrific and irrational" but noted that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Named Entities

Among those penalized was a dual national, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and retired Colombian military officer based in the UAE. The Treasury accused him a central role in enlisting and transporting mercenaries to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was also sanctioned.

Also on the restricted list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who the Treasury stated managed a business accused of processing money and salaries for the network. "Over the past two years, US-based firms connected to Duque conducted several money transfers, worth millions," the official announcement stated.

Individual Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the final person to be penalized, with the entity she oversaw accused of financial transactions associated with Duque and his operations.

"Washington reiterates its demand for external actors to stop giving financial and military support to the belligerents," the department announced.

Expert Analysis

An expert, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, called the actions as a "highly important" milestone, stating that "identifying the recruiters is the correct approach".

Furthermore, the Colombian government has enacted a law approving the anti-mercenary convention, aiming to curb years of participation by its nationals in international fights and reshape domestic defense strategy.

Another expert, a authority on private military contractors, urged more caution, stating that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for dealing with rampant mercenarism".

"It operates in the black market and operating from the Emirates, which is difficult to penalize," he said. The UAE has been widely accused of providing arms to the militia, claims it rejects. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," the expert cautioned.