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The US government has enforced penalties on a network of several persons and entities alleged of enlisting former Colombian soldiers to support and educate a Sudanese paramilitary group that Washington accuses of acts of genocide.

Group Makeup

Disclosing the measures on this week, the US Treasury Department stated the scheme was largely composed of Colombian nationals and companies.

Scores of former Colombian military personnel have reportedly travelled to the conflict in Sudan to combat beside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a group accused of horrific war crimes encompassing targeted ethnic killings and widespread kidnappings.

Emergence of Involvement

The participation of ex-soldiers was first uncovered in 2024, after an inquiry which disclosed that hundreds of former soldiers had been recruited to engage in combat – an revelation that led to an rare mea culpa from the Colombian government.

Former Colombian military have widely regarded as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their extensive battlefield experience acquired during decades of civil war, training on advanced weaponry, and high-level combat training.

Activities in Sudan

In the conflict, the Colombians have allegedly instructed underage fighters, taught fighters to pilot drones, and engaged in frontline combat. One source was quoted as saying that training children was "horrific and irrational" but commented that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Targeted Persons

Among those penalized was a dual national, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and former army officer based in the Dubai. The US authorities alleged he played a key part in enlisting and transporting mercenaries to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was also sanctioned.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who the Treasury stated managed a business linked to managing finances and payments for the scheme. "Over the past two years, American entities connected to Duque carried out multiple financial transactions, totalling millions of US dollars," the official announcement said.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz was the final person to be targeted, with the entity she oversaw alleged to have wire transfers connected to Duque and his operations.

"The US once more urges external actors to halt the flow of funding and arms to the belligerents," the department announced.

Analyst Commentary

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

Furthermore, the Colombian government recently passed a law endorsing the anti-mercenary convention, designed to limit years of participation by its nationals in overseas wars and change domestic defense strategy.

A mercenary specialist, a authority on private military contractors, urged more caution, noting that "restrictions are needed but not enough for combating widespread use of contractors".

"It’s an illicit economy and centered in Dubai, which is difficult to penalize," he said. The UAE has been frequently alleged of providing arms to the militia, an accusation it has denied. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," he advised.